Lessons of parathyroid reoperations

The case histories of the 23 patients in this series demonstrate the importance of a systematic approach to parathyroid surgery. Ligation of the superior thyroid vessels and mobilization of the upper pole of the thyroid are often necessary to find the superior parathyroid glands that are located on the posterior surface of the thyroid. Devascularization of the thyroid gland does not occur with this maneuver because of abundant collateral circulation from the inferior thyroid artery and tracheal vessels. Normal appearing parathyroid glands should not be resected because this procedure does not treat hypercalcemia and may leave the patient with insufficient parathyroid tissue if an adenoma is found at a later date. Bilateral cervical exploration [35,36] is performed before resection of any abnormal appearing parathyroid tissue. Patients may also have supernumerary parathyroid glands [16], especially in the inferior cervical and superior mediastinal areas that are associated with the thymus [37,38].