Background: Surgery is the therapy of choice in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), although other less invasive techniques have been used in the attempt to cure the disease. Recently, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a totally non-invasive technique, has become available to cure solid tumors. Aim: The aim of this pilot study has been to assess the safety and efficacy of HIFU in symptomatic patients with PHPT. Material and methods: Four out of 31 patients with surgical indications within a cohort of 47-screened patients with PHPT were considered eligible for the study. All patients accepted to participate and were submitted to HIFU treatment in a single session. One patient was submitted to surgery after HIFU treatment. Patients were followed-up for 12 months after the procedure. Results: A persistent or a partial remission of the disease, respectively, were obtained in 2 patients (50%), including the one who underwent surgery after HIFU treatment. Safety was assessed performing laryngoscopy in all patients after HIFU procedure. A transient vocal cord paralysis was observed in all patients treated by HIFU only. No permanent side effects were observed in the long term. Conclusions: HIFU might be a promising technique in treating PHPT, provided that further development of the software decreases the rate of side effects and improves the short- and long-term efficacy. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 34: 655-659, 2011) (C) 2011, Editrice Kurtis
High-intensity focused ultrasound as an alternative to the surgical approach in primary hyperparathyroidism: a preliminary experience
Torregrossa L;BASOLO, FULVIO;MARCOCCI, CLAUDIO;MICCOLI, PAOLO
2011-01-01
Abstract
Background: Surgery is the therapy of choice in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), although other less invasive techniques have been used in the attempt to cure the disease. Recently, high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a totally non-invasive technique, has become available to cure solid tumors. Aim: The aim of this pilot study has been to assess the safety and efficacy of HIFU in symptomatic patients with PHPT. Material and methods: Four out of 31 patients with surgical indications within a cohort of 47-screened patients with PHPT were considered eligible for the study. All patients accepted to participate and were submitted to HIFU treatment in a single session. One patient was submitted to surgery after HIFU treatment. Patients were followed-up for 12 months after the procedure. Results: A persistent or a partial remission of the disease, respectively, were obtained in 2 patients (50%), including the one who underwent surgery after HIFU treatment. Safety was assessed performing laryngoscopy in all patients after HIFU procedure. A transient vocal cord paralysis was observed in all patients treated by HIFU only. No permanent side effects were observed in the long term. Conclusions: HIFU might be a promising technique in treating PHPT, provided that further development of the software decreases the rate of side effects and improves the short- and long-term efficacy. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 34: 655-659, 2011) (C) 2011, Editrice KurtisI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
