Hypoparathyroidism after Thyroidectomy and the Effect of Parathyroid Autotransplantation

Background and Objectives To preserve the parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy, understanding of its anatomy and physiology is essential. Parathyroid autotransplantation can be performed to restore the function of parathyroid gland. However, the efficacy of parathyroid autotransplantation is still debatable. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of hypoparathyroidism following thyroidectomy and evaluate the efficacy of parathyroid autotransplantation.Subjects and Method We analyzed 449 patients who underwent thyroidectomy from January 2006 to June 2010. A total of 419 patients underwent total thyroidectomy, while 30 patients underwent unilateral lobectomy. Among the total thyroidectomy group, 96 patients underwent unilateral central neck dissection and 186 patients underwent bilateral central neck dissection. We analyzed the frequency of hypoparathyroidism according to the extent of thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, and parathyroid gland autotransplantation.Results Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 20% of lobectomy patients and 54.6% of the entire thyroidectomy group. Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred only in 7.2% of the entire thyroidectomy group. Transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 47.4% and 6.5%, respectively, of the patients without central neck dissection, in 54.0% and 7.3%, respectively, of the patients with unilateral central neck dissection, and 60.2% and 7.5%, respectively, of the patients with bilateral central neck dissection. Parathyroid autotransplantation was performed in 29 patients of 105 patients whose one or more parathyroid glands were removed inadvertently, and permanent hypoparathyroidism did not occur among those patients.Conclusion The frequency of transient hypoparathyroidism was increased according to the extent of thyroidectomy and central neck dissection. Parathyroid autotransplantation might be effective in minimizing permanent hypoparathyroidism