Effects of active localization and vascular preservation of inferior parathyroid glands in central neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The purpose of present study is to assess the effects of active localization and vascular preservation of inferior parathyroid glands in central neck dissection (CND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: A classification of IPGs according to their location and vascular features was developed, and, based on this classification, a CND procedure was designed, and IPGs and their vascular were actively localized and strategically preserved. A total of 197 patients with PTC who underwent a total thyroidectomy and concomitant CND were enrolled. Eighty-nine patients with traditional meticulous fascia dissection were allocated to group A, and 108 patients with active location and vascular preservation of IPGs were allocated to group B. Those with inferior parathyroid glands auto-transplantation in each group were assigned as group At (18) and group Bt (12). Variables including serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), total calcium, the incidence of transient, and permanent hypoparathyroidism were studied. RESULTS: Compared with group A, serum intact PTH (P < 0.001) and total calcium levels (P < 0.05) in group B significantly improved on the first postoperative day, and the incidence of transient hypoparathyroidism significantly dropped in group B (P < 0.001). A total of 170 patients in the two groups had complete follow-up data. The incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism significantly decreased in group B, from 8.8% to 1.0% (P = 0.017). However, there were no significant differences in all variables between group Bt and group At. CONCLUSION: Active location and vascular preservation of inferior parathyroid glands effectively protected the function of IPGs in CND for PTC.