Shigeharu Dokoh

Accumulation of 201Tl-chloride in a parathyroid adenoma.

A 201TI-chloride scan was performed on a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism. 201TI-chloride accumulated in the region of the right lower thyroidal pole and a diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma was confirmed in traoperatively. 201TI-chloride imaging of a hyperfunctioning parathyroid gland seems to be useful for the detection and preoperative localization of a parathyroid adenoma.

Evidence that factors other than 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D may play a role in augmenting intestinal calcium absorption in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism

SummaryWe examined 17 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism for their serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D levels and for their fractional intestinal calcium absorption rates using a whole body counter and calcium-47. As controls, 10 normal volunteers were examined both before and after administration of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D to increase serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. Values of serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D were 71.6±37.6 pg/ml (mean ±SD) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and 75.3±27.7 pg/ml (mean ±SD) in normal volunteers after administration of 1α-hydroxyvitamin D, while values of intestinal calcium absorption rate were 61.5±16.5% (mean ±SD) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and 34.1±5.1% (mean ±SD) in normal controls, respectively. There was a positive correlation between values of serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D and intestinal calcium absorption in both groups. However, in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, intestinal calcium absorption was more increased than that in normal volunteers when compared to their serum values of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D. This suggests that another factor than 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D plays an important role in the intestinal calcium absorption in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Autosomal dominant osteosclerosis associated with familial spinal canal stenosis

We studied a family with autosomal dominant osteosclerosis associated with familial spinal canal stenosis. The propositus, a 44-year-old Japanese woman, had a 9-month history of occipitalgia and left tinnitus, and also had a 2-month history of pain and numbness of the right upper limb. Radiographic skeletal survey showed osteosclerotic changes in the neurocranium, diaphysis of the long bone, mandible, shoulder, clavicle, and ribs. Serum alkaline phosphatase was normal, and no periosteal excrescences were seen. The inheritance pattern was autosomal dominant. The propositus and her daughter, both with severe osteosclerosis, showed spinal canal stenosis, but her son, whose osteosclerosis was moderate, did not. This is the first report of autosomal dominant osteosclerosis associated with familial spinal canal stenosis.