EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF PARATHYROID INCIDENTALOMAS DETECTED BY ROUTINE NECK ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH A MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINICAL APPROACH.

Contex: Detection of parathyroid incidentalomas (PTIs) by ultrasonography (US) generally depends on clinical experience and it can be usually confused with perithyroidal lymph nodes.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the role of US for the detection of PTIs and define clinicopathologic features of PTIs detected during routine neck US.

Design: In this retrospective study, we studied PTIs in a multidisciplinary clinical approach of nuclear medicine and general surgery clinics.

Subjects and methods: US indications and reports of 41275 were reviewed retrospectively. Of these patients, PTI was suspected in 66 (0.16%) patients. Those with a pathology-confirmed diagnosis after surgery formed Group PCD and those without a pathology-confirmed diagnosis and operation Group NPCD. These groups were compared statistically according to demographic data, laboratory tests, imaging results and postoperative findings.

Results: The diagnosis of PTI was confirmed pathologically in 31 operated patients. Other pathologies rather than PTI on US were multinodular goiter, thyroiditis, thyroid nodule and perithyroidal lymph node. PTH and calcium levels were significantly higher in PCD Group;anti-TPO and anti-TG levels were significantly higher in NPCD Group.

Conclusions: Lesions suspected of PTI on US should be followed-up with further evaluation by laboratory tests and imaging methods and a multidisciplinary working environment should be established.