open access

Vol 71, No 2 (2020)
Original paper
Submitted: 2019-10-08
Accepted: 2020-01-04
Published online: 2020-03-04
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Risk factors of permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer: a prospective study

Paulina Godlewska1, Małgorzata Benke1, Elżbieta Stachlewska-Nasfeter1, Jacek Gałczyński1, Bartosz Puła2, Marek Dedecjus1
·
Pubmed: 32154569
·
Endokrynol Pol 2020;71(2):126-133.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Endocrine Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Institute of Oncology — National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Haematology, Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland

open access

Vol 71, No 2 (2020)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2019-10-08
Accepted: 2020-01-04
Published online: 2020-03-04

Abstract

Introduction: Inadvertent removal of, or damage to the parathyroid glands in the course of operations on the anterior neck compartment are responsible for over 80% of cases of chronic hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT). This study searched for factors related to the development of permanent HypoPT after total thyroidectomy and central neck lymphadenectomy in patients with thyroid carcinoma.

Material and methods: In total, 89 of 103 screened patients met the study’s criteria and were put under prospective one-year observation. Demographic and surgical factors as well as the biochemical parameters of mineral homeostasis, controlled both preoperatively and postoperatively, were subject to statistical analysis. In line with contemporary guidelines, postoperative hypocalcaemia, rather than an abnormally low serum parathormone (PTH) concentration, was considered a diagnostic criterion of HypoPT.

Results: On postoperative day one (POD1), serum concentration of PTH decreased below the normal range (< 12 pg/mL) in 29 patients and was undetectable in 19 patients (< 6 pg/mL). At one year postoperatively, 12 patients with undetectable POD1 PTH required treatment for hypocalcaemia and were diagnosed with permanent hypoPT. All the other patients regained normocalcaemia. Relative risk of permanent HypoPT associated with undetectable POD1 PTH was 88.75. A significant difference in median POD1 serum calcium concentration between the patients with undetectable POD1 PTH and those with detectable POD1 PTH was found (p < 0.001). The difference between the POD1 serum calcium in patients with permanent or transient HypoPT in the subgroup with undetectable POD1 PTH did not reach the level of statistical significance (median, 1.82 mmol/L vs. 1.96 mmol/L). At one month postoperatively, in patients who later developed permanent HypoPT, serum calcium was lower than it was in all other patients (p = 0.167). At one year postoperatively, serum concentration of PTH was in the normal range in 10 of 12 patients with permanent HypoPT; however, it was significantly lower than it had been before the operation and distinctly lower than it was in patients who regained normocalcaemia. The number of parathyroid glands either dissected or autotransplanted did not affect the development of permanent HypoPT.

Conclusions: Undetectable POD1 PTH is an important risk factor of permanent HypoPT. The main cause of permanent HypoPT was irreversible damage to the left in situ parathyroid glands.

Abstract

Introduction: Inadvertent removal of, or damage to the parathyroid glands in the course of operations on the anterior neck compartment are responsible for over 80% of cases of chronic hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT). This study searched for factors related to the development of permanent HypoPT after total thyroidectomy and central neck lymphadenectomy in patients with thyroid carcinoma.

Material and methods: In total, 89 of 103 screened patients met the study’s criteria and were put under prospective one-year observation. Demographic and surgical factors as well as the biochemical parameters of mineral homeostasis, controlled both preoperatively and postoperatively, were subject to statistical analysis. In line with contemporary guidelines, postoperative hypocalcaemia, rather than an abnormally low serum parathormone (PTH) concentration, was considered a diagnostic criterion of HypoPT.

Results: On postoperative day one (POD1), serum concentration of PTH decreased below the normal range (< 12 pg/mL) in 29 patients and was undetectable in 19 patients (< 6 pg/mL). At one year postoperatively, 12 patients with undetectable POD1 PTH required treatment for hypocalcaemia and were diagnosed with permanent hypoPT. All the other patients regained normocalcaemia. Relative risk of permanent HypoPT associated with undetectable POD1 PTH was 88.75. A significant difference in median POD1 serum calcium concentration between the patients with undetectable POD1 PTH and those with detectable POD1 PTH was found (p < 0.001). The difference between the POD1 serum calcium in patients with permanent or transient HypoPT in the subgroup with undetectable POD1 PTH did not reach the level of statistical significance (median, 1.82 mmol/L vs. 1.96 mmol/L). At one month postoperatively, in patients who later developed permanent HypoPT, serum calcium was lower than it was in all other patients (p = 0.167). At one year postoperatively, serum concentration of PTH was in the normal range in 10 of 12 patients with permanent HypoPT; however, it was significantly lower than it had been before the operation and distinctly lower than it was in patients who regained normocalcaemia. The number of parathyroid glands either dissected or autotransplanted did not affect the development of permanent HypoPT.

Conclusions: Undetectable POD1 PTH is an important risk factor of permanent HypoPT. The main cause of permanent HypoPT was irreversible damage to the left in situ parathyroid glands.

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Keywords

parathyroid hormone; hypoparathyroidism; thyroidectomy; hypocalcaemia; thyroid carcinoma

About this article
Title

Risk factors of permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection for papillary thyroid cancer: a prospective study

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 71, No 2 (2020)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

126-133

Published online

2020-03-04

Page views

4900

Article views/downloads

3262

DOI

10.5603/EP.a2020.0006

Pubmed

32154569

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2020;71(2):126-133.

Keywords

parathyroid hormone
hypoparathyroidism
thyroidectomy
hypocalcaemia
thyroid carcinoma

Authors

Paulina Godlewska
Małgorzata Benke
Elżbieta Stachlewska-Nasfeter
Jacek Gałczyński
Bartosz Puła
Marek Dedecjus

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