Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026

Generation of Hypoparathyroid Rats via Carbon-Nanoparticle-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
Published on: July 14, 2023
Use of Parathyroid Hormone Assay after Thyroidectomy: A Survey of US and European Surgeons
Daniel J Stein1, J Pieter Noordzij, Jessica Kepchar
1Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Introduction:
Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy results in prolongation of hospitalization and patient discomfort but can be predicted by PTH assays. However, there is considerable variation in their use.
Methods:
This study was undertaken to document current US and European practice patterns regarding the use of this assay. Anonymous surveys were collected in 2009-2011 from members of the American Academies of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and Endocrine Surgery and the European, Italian, French, Spanish and British Societies of Endocrine Surgery.
Results:
There were 356 American (3% response) and 61 European (10% response) respondents. 105 (29.8%) American and 25 (41%) European respondents reported routine PTH assay use. Fellowship trained surgeons reported increased use of the PTH assay (P = 0.004). Shorter reported average post-operative hospital stay was associated with American physicians (P = 0.0001), community practice location (P = 0.0002) and routine calcium supplementation (P = 0.0015).
Conclusions:
Surgical training was associated with routine use of the PTH assay. Average reported hospital stay was lower for American and community practice physicians and correlated with post-operative oral calcium use.
Related Concept Videos
The Parathyroid Glands
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by...
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...

