The Effect of Parathyroid Gland Autotransplantation on Hypoparathyroidism After Thyroid Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

PURPOSE: There are some controversies over the relationship between parathyroid gland autotransplantation and permanent hypoparathyroidism. This study aimed to explore the relationship between parathyroid gland autotransplantation and postoperative hypoparathyroidism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent initial thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma from January 2014 to December 2018. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to the number of autotransplanted parathyroid glands (group 1: 0 autotransplanted parathyroid gland, group 2: 1 autotransplanted parathyroid gland, group 3: 2 autotransplanted parathyroid glands, group 4: 3 autotransplanted parathyroid glands). Clinical data were analyzed among the four groups. RESULTS: The more parathyroid glands were transplanted, the higher the incidence of immediate hypoparathyroidism was (group 1: 32.9%, group 2: 52.9%, group 3: 65.8%, group 4: 82.4%; P(group 1 vs group 2) < 0.001, P(group 2 vs group 3) = 0.012, P(group 3 vs group 4) = 0.17). Parathyroid gland autotransplantation did not affect the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism (group 1: 1.4%, group 2: 1.3%, group 3: 0.9%, group 4: 0%; P(group 1 vs group 2) > 0.99, P(group 2 vs group 3) > 0.99, P(group 3 vs group 4) > 0.99). CONCLUSION: The number of autotransplanted parathyroid glands was positively associated with the incidence of postoperative immediate hypoparathyroidism. Parathyroid gland autotransplantation was not associated with permanent hypoparathyroidism.