Angiographic ablation of parathyroid adenomas

Six mediastinal parathyroid adenomas were stained by infusing contrast agent through a catheter wedged in the feeding artery. Adenomas in the first three cases were stained unintentionally with small volumes of dilute contrast media and hypercalcemia recurred within 3 to 6 mth. In the next three patients, adenomas were deliberately stained with larger doses of concentrated contrast media and these patients have remained normocalcemic from 2 to 18 mth following staining. The permanency of parathyroid ablation following deliberate staining with contrast media has not been established.