Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research
Relationship between hypoparathyroidism and the number of parathyroid glands preserved during thyroidectomy
Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2014
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Background
The relationship between the number of parathyroid glands preserved and hypoparathyroidism is not well understood. We sought to determine the number of parathyroid glands that need to be preserved to prevent hypoparathyroidism.
Methods
We analyzed 454 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. We analyzed the frequency of hypoparathyroidism according to the number of parathyroid glands preserved.
Results
Incidental parathyroidectomy occurred in 19.8% of the patients; one parathyroid gland in 17.6%, two in 1.5%, and three in 0.7%. Transient hypoparathyroidism was increased when incidental parathyroidectomy occurred (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 3.23, P = 0.036) on multivariate regression analysis, but was not influenced by the actual number of parathyroid glands removed. There was no relationship between the number of parathyroid glands preserved and permanent hypoparathyroidism (P = 0.147).
Conclusions
Preservation of all parathyroid glands decreases transient hypoparathyroidism compared with when three or fewer glands are preserved, but does not affect permanent hypoparathyroidism. During total thyroidectomy, preserving at least one parathyroid gland with an intact blood supply appears to be sufficient to prevent permanent hypoparathyroidism when autotransplantation is not performed.