Minimally Invasive Radio-guided Parathyroid Surgery

최소침습 방사능 유도 부갑상선 수술

Introduction: Since 1996, Dr. James Norman has successfully performed mimimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy(MIRP) using intraoperative nuclear mapping with $^{99m}Tc$ sestamibi scanning and radioactivity detection probe. Objectives: We aimed to introduce this new surgical technique and evaluate it's efficacy by our own experiences. Method: From May to October 1999, five consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent parathyroidectomy by using modified MIRP technique. $^{99m}Tc$ sestamibi scanning was performed 1.0 or 1.5 hour before operation. After intraoperative localization of the tumor under the guidance of quantitative gamma counting with a NEVIGATOR probe, an unilateral small skin incision(3.0-4.0cm) was placed. Without a skin flap, the strap muscle was directly divided with the use of a Harmonic scalpel. After careful dissection, the parathyroid tumor was removed. Result: In all patients, a single adenoma could be easily detected and removed by this new technique. Mean incision length was 3.2cm(3.0-4.0cm) and operative time ranged from 40 to 110minute. All the patients were discharged within 2 days of surgery without any complication. Conclusion: This new operative technique could become the most minimally invasive alternative to the standard operative procedure for parathyroid adenoma.