Succesful parathyroid surgery depends on a number of factors:
1. Quality imaging - Sestamibi and ultrasound are used for most cases. CT and MRI also may have a role.
2. Surgery - this should be offered as a minimal access procedure through a 2cm incision to those patients who are suitable. There are a number of centres where this is not available and patients should expect a different surgeon.
3. Anatomy - the parathyroid glands are extremely variable in their location in the neck. Indeed some can be in the chest. This can make it very difficult to identify the faulty gland(s).
http://www.bucksendocrine.com/
http://www.thyroidsurgeon.org.uk/
