RT Journal
A1 Heath H, III
T1 SElective small thyroid-vein catheterization
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1979
FD July 20
VO 242
IS 3
SP 237
OP 237
DO 10.1001/jama.1979.03300030013003
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03300030013003
AB To the Editor.— 
    I have just read the reply by Doris G. Bartuska, MD (240:1903, 1978), to a question regarding the "indications for venous sampling for parathyroid hormone levels in patients with hypercalciuria who have normal [peripheral] serum calcium and [parathyroid hormone] PTH levels."In my opinion, the answer given is highly misleading. The proper answer may be given in one word: "none." Selective catheterization of the small thyroid veins with PTH assay is not "a valuable procedure in the diagnosis of parathyroid disease." This procedure is useful only for localization of parathyroid tissue once a diagnosis is made by other means.1,2 "Step-ups" of PTH concentrations may be found in thyroid veins of normal persons, as would be expected.1,3 The indications proposed by Dr Bartuska (and not supported by references) are extremely ill advised. In the hands of competent endocrinologists and surgeons, a correct diagnosis and successful treatment of