Thermal ablation of parathyroid adenomas

What is a parathyroid adenoma?

A parathyroid adenoma is a small benign tumour growing on one of the parathyroid glands. It produces too much parathyroid hormone (PTH), which raises the level of calcium in the blood. This can cause fatigue, kidney stones and fragile bones (osteoporosis).

Who is it for?

• Primary hyperparathyroidism caused by a single adenoma, clearly located on ultrasound and scintigraphy.
• Patients who cannot have surgery, who refuse surgery, or whose disease recurred after an operation.
• Secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with kidney failure: decided case by case.

Work-up before the procedure

Calcium, PTH and vitamin D levels, kidney function, neck ultrasound and sestamibi scintigraphy (or choline PET) to locate the adenoma precisely.

Procedure

The principle is the same as for the thyroid: local anaesthesia, hydrodissection to protect the voice nerve, ablation under ultrasound control, and discharge the same day.

Results and follow-up

• PTH starts to fall within the first hours. At the practice, a clear drop was measured in one patient just one hour after the procedure (see the video on the Facebook page).
• According to a meta-analysis published in 2025 (20 studies, 815 patients), calcium returns to normal in about 86% of patients at 6–12 months, with fewer than 1% serious complications.
• Follow-up includes calcium and PTH tests at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months, then once a year.

Frequently asked questions