Risk Factors of Incidental Parathyroidecomy in Thyroid Surgery

Incidental parathyroidectomy with subsequent hypoparathyroidism and postoperative hypocalcemia is thought to be one of the common complications of thyroidectomy. Current literature reports wide discrepancy in incidence and risk factors.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of incidental parathyroidectomy in thyroid surgery.

A retrospective study included 270 patients who had thyroid surgery that was performed over two years from January 2017 to December 2018 in two tertiary care hospitals. Preoperative and postoperative records were assessed. Factors such as gender, diagnosis, type of surgery, and usage of surgical loupes during the procedure were evaluated and were compared to find the association with incidental parathyroidectomy in thyroid surgery.

Incidental parathyroidectomy was noticed in 62 (23%) surgical specimens during histopathologic examination. There was no significant association between incidental parathyroidectomy and sex of patient, use of surgical loupes, pathology of thyroid disease, or neck dissection.

Although the risk of incidental parathyroidectomy is inevitable, careful dissection and meticulous intraoperative identification of parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy can reduce the incidence of incidental parathyroidectomy, thereby minimizing the risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia.