SURGICAL ANATOMY OF PARATHYROID GLANDS IN PATIENTS WITH SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

Abstract

Ectopic or supernumerary parathyroid glands (PTg) can be the reason of surgical failure in treat- ment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients, who underwent dialysis. The aim of this study is to estimate the number and localization of PTgs in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. We included 165 patients, who underwent total parathyroidectomy with heterotopic autotransplantation of parathyroid gland tissue or subtotal parathyroidectomy. All identified PTgs were separated in two groups: eutopic and ectopic. Preoperative localization was performed by multispiral computed tomog- raphy of neck and mediastinum, neck ultrasonography, two-isotope Tc99 MIBI of PTgs. In postopera- tive period, we estimated the level of parathyroid hormone in the serum and performed morphological verification. There were found 659 PTgs. 12 (7,2%) patients had 3 parathyroid glands, and 11 (6.7%)had 5 PTgs. 4 Ptgs were found in 142 (86,1%) patients. 520 (78,9%) PTgs were eutopic, 139 (21,1%) - ectopic. The most common ectopic place for upper PTgs were paraesophageal and retrotracheal spaces, carotid sheath. Ectopic lower PTgs were most commonly located in the horns of the thymus. All super- numerary PTg were ectopic and often located in area between lower pole of the thyroid lobe and the thymus.Conclusion. During the operation in case when ectopy is suspected, upper PTgs should be located in in paraesophageal and paratracheal areas or in carotid sheath, if it necessary. If lower PTgs is absence, surgery should be completed cervical thymectomy.