[Simplified procedure for cold preservation of human parathyroid gland tissue for replantation]

A simplified technique for cryopreservation of human parathyroid tissue is described. It allows to achieve the same quality of tissue than using the programmable expensive freezing method which is usually employed up to now. Cryovials are placed in a methanol bath. The temperature is decreased by -1 degree C/min down to -25 degrees C, thereafter by -10 degrees C/min down to -70 degrees C by repeated adding of cryo ice-cubes into the methanol. Thereafter the vials are stored in LN2. The temperature lowering is controlled by a stop watch and a thermometer in a reference vial. This simple and cheap technique may allow a more general application of cryopreservation in surgery of hyperparathyroidism.