Endocrine imaging: parathyroid, adrenal cortex and medulla, and other endocrine tumors. Part II.

Prevalence of Primary Hyperparathyroidism The most common cause of hypercalcemia in ambulatory patients is primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Approximately one in every 1000 adults has the disease. Approximately 1 in every 200 elderly women has been found to have the disease. It is the second most common cause of hypercalcemia in hospitalized patients (where malignancy is the leading cause). With the widespread use of auto-analyzers (which include a serum calcium and phosphorus) and the confirming parathormone ligand assays, the prevalence of this condition has been increasingly detected in asymptomatic patients being studied for other diseases. Most frequently, the source is a solitary benign parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia that can be removed surgically.