Abstract
Background: Patients undergoing central neck surgery are at risk for hypoparathyroidism. We hypothesized that gamma probe identification of sestamibi-labeled parathyroid glands might help maximize parathyroid preservation. Methods: Records of 351 patients who underwent central neck surgery were reviewed. A subgroup of patients underwent sestamibi injection followed by gamma probe-directed parathyroid gland identification. Results: Operation was performed for malignancy in 73% of patients and represented a reoperation in 34%. Persistent hypoparathyroidism was more common in patients who underwent reoperation versus a primary operation (6.8% versus 1.7%; P = 0.02). Thirteen patients underwent gamma probe-directed identification of sestamibi-labeled parathyroid glands; in 6 of these patients, sestamibi-labeled parathyroid glands were salvaged from the resected specimens and autografted. None of these 13 patients developed persistent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions: Patients undergoing reoperative central neck surgery are at increased risk for postoperative hypoparathyroidism. Gamma probe-directed salvage of sestamibi-labeled parathyroid glands may help maximize parathyroid preservation, especially in complex or reoperative central neck surgery.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 711-717 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American Journal of Surgery |
Volume | 186 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2003 |
Keywords
- Gamma probe
- Hypoparathyroidism
- Parathyroid
- Thyroid cancer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery