Korean J Endocr Surg.  2011 Mar;11(1):22-27. 10.0000/kjes.2011.11.1.22.

Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes of Incidental Parathyroidectomy during Thyroid Surgery

• Yi MS
• Lee BK
• Youn HJ
• Jung SH

• KMID: 2375365
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjes.2011.11.1.22

Abstract

PURPOSE
Incidental resection of parathyroid gland is not uncommon during thyroid surgery and may occur even in experienced thyroid surgeons. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical relevance of incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery.
METHODS
A retrospective review of patients who underwent thyroid surgery between January and December 2008 was carried out. Pathologic reports were reviewed for the presence of parathyroid tissue in resected thyroid specimen. Two groups of patients were studied: a group with incidental parathyroidectomy (Group A) and without incidental parathyroidectomy (Group B).
RESULTS
Three hundred and thirty-four thyroid surgery were performed: 194 total thyroidectomies, 18 near- or subtotal thyroidectomies, 44 lobectomies, 23 endoscopic total thyroidectomies, 55 endoscopic lobectomies. Of these, 265 patients (79.3%) were preformed for malignant disease. Incidental parathyroidectomy occurred in 30.5% (102/334) of thyroid surgery. Risk factors for incidental parathyroidectomy included malignant pathology (P<0.001), operation method (P<0.001), lymph node dissection (P<0.001), and extrathyroidal invasion (P=0.001). Biochemical hypocalcemia was defined as a serum calcium levels less than 8.4 mg/dL. Symptomatic hypocalcemia was defined as patient had tingled sense or spasm of muscle and need to add more calcium replacement. In group A, 86 patients (93.5%) had a biochemical hypocalcemia (P=0.001). Symptomatic hypocalcemia developed in 35.3% (36/102) of group A, compared to 20.7% (48/232) in group B (P=0.005).
CONCLUSION
Malignant pathology, total thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection, and extrathyroidal invasion were associated with a significantly higher risk of incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery. Incidental parathyroidectomy resulted in biochemical and symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemia. This study suggests that incidental parathyroidectomy may be a potential complication; therefore, parathyroid glands should be identified and preserved with more meticulous inspection during thyroid surgery.

Keyword

Incidental parathyroidectomy; Hypocalcemia; Thyroid surgery

MeSH Terms

Calcium
Humans
Hypocalcemia
Incidence
Lymph Node Excision
Methods
Parathyroid Glands
Parathyroidectomy*
Pathology
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*
Spasm
Surgeons
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroidectomy
Calcium

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Postoperative hypocalcemia of incidental parathyroidectomy. (A) Postoperative hypocalcemia in all patients (N=334). Biochemical hypocalcemia developed in 93.5% of group A, compared to 76.8% in group B (P=0.001). Symptomatic hypocalcemia developed in 35.3% of group A, compared to 20.7% in group B (P=0.005). (B) Postoperative hypocalcemia in patients who were performed total thyroidectomy (N=217). Biochemical hypocalcemia developed in 94.1% of group A, compared to 85.6% in group B (P=0.026). Symptomatic hypocalcemia developed in 42.4% of group A, compared to 34.8% in group B (P=0.133). Biochemical hypocalcemia = ＜8.4 mg/dL; Symptomatic hypocalcemia = patients who received additional calcium replacement with symptoms.

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