Percutaneous ethanol ablation (PEA) is an alternative non-surgical method for the treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), suitable in cases with comorbidities and high surgical risk.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the results of PEA in patients with PHPT at the early stages of follow-up.
Materials and methods: The study included 35 patients (30 women and 5 men, mean age 59.7 ± 12.4 years) with biochemical and hormonal data of PHPT and localized parathyroid adenoma (PTA) by ultrasound, nuclear scan, FNB with cytology and evaluation of PTH in the needle washout. All patients were at high surgical risk or refused surgical treatment. PEA was applied and changes in the PTA volume and calcium-phosphate metabolism were monitored at the third (M3) and sixth (M6) months after the procedure.
Results: Normocalcaemia was achieved in 26 patients (74.3%) at M3 and persisted at M6 in 22 of them. A second course of PEA was administered in 11 patients with persistent hypercalcaemia at M3 and M6, respectively. Compared to the baseline, the mean PTA volume decreased significantly by 53% at M3 and 67% at M6 (p < 0.001). Side effects including local pain, edema and dysphonia were observed in 5 patients (14.3%).
Conclusion: PEA is an efficient and safe treatment modality for the management of PHPT. A significant reduction in PTA volume and a normalization of serum calcium and PTH levels were observed at the early stages of follow-up.
