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Become a member and receive career-enhancing benefits

Our top priority is providing value to members. Your Member Services team is here to ensure you maximize your ACS member benefits, participate in College activities, and engage with your ACS colleagues. It's all here.

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Literature Selections

Parathyroid Transplantation Does Not Prevent Hypoparathyroidism after Thyroid Surgery

February 4, 2025

Kasmirski JA, Allahwasaya A, Wu C, et al. Does Parathyroid Autotransplantation Prevent Hypoparathyroidism after Thyroid Surgery? Ann Surg. 2025; in press.

Hypocalcemia due to hypoparathyroidism can occur due to damage or devascularization of parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy. Parathyroid transplantation has been suggested as an effective treatment for this condition, but comprehensive evidence supporting the value of this approach is lacking.

This study reported a retrospective analysis of 549 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy over an 8-year interval. A subgroup of 152 patients with postoperative parathyroid hormone levels below 10 units underwent parathyroid transplantation.

The data analysis showed similar rates of symptomatic hypoparathyroidism and transient hypocalcemia in patients who had parathyroid transplantation compared with patients who did not undergo transplantation.

The authors concluded that parathyroid transplantation did not alter outcomes in patients with low postoperative parathyroid hormone levels.