Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of parathyroid lesions

Hyperparathyroidism is a syndrome caused by adenoma, hyperplasia or rarely by cancer of the parathyroid glands. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complications in cases of chronic renal insufficiency, with clinical and biochemical signs of increased function of parathyroid glands. It may be so pronounced that surgery is necessary. Sometimes medical treatment of hyperparathyroidism consists of percussing inactivity of tumor of the parathyroid glands with alcohol. Both procedures demand preoperative location of the tissue of the parathyroid glands. Preoperative location of abnormal, nonpalpable parathyroid glands in patient with hyperparathyroidism is largely dependent on use of a high-resolution sonography. However, such a technique has some limitations and aid of a fine-needle biopsy (FNAB) may be relevant.