[Changes in serum intact parathyroid hormone levels and ultrasonic findings after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism].

A 74-year-old woman with primary hyperparathyroidism and ischemic heart disease was treated with percutaneous ethanol injection into a single parathyroid adenoma which was confirmed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The changes in intact parathyroid hormone (int-PTH), serum calcium, serum phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase after percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT), and also ultrasonic findings of the injected adenoma were examined before and after PEIT. The values of int-PTH and serum calcium remained high for a few hours after the ethanol injection. About 24 hrs later, however, rapid lowering of the serum concentrations of int-PTH and serum calcium was observed, reaching normal levels about 36 hrs later. Although these parameters recurred once, the patient received another three ethanol injections within three months, which normalized these values. In ultrasonic findings, the parathyroid adenoma was well demarcated and hypoechoic before PEIT. Twenty-four hours after the ethanol injection, the adenoma became hyperechoic with a small hypoechoic lesion as viable tissue. Then the tumor shrank gradually and no apparent side-effects was observed in a total of four PEIT. Since in Japan, PEIT for primary hyperparathyroidism has not been widely performed, we propose that this therapy could be a useful alternative treatment in patients in whom parathyroid surgery would not be indicated such as the elderly, patients with high surgical risks, hypercalcemic crisis and patients who refuse surgery.