[Autotransplantation of cryopreserved human parathyroid tissue (author's transl)]

Following the third operation, aparathyroidism occurred in a 70-year-old female with primary hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid hyperplasia. Part of the parathyroid obtained during the last operation was cryopreserved immediately after resection and replanted successfully after 15 days into the lower arm muscles. The function of the transplanted tissue was demonstrated by successful stepwise reduction of hormone substitution. Parathyroid hormone concentrations in the blood of the veins draining the transplanted tissue were more than double in comparison with the contralateral side. Functional and morphological investigations of the defrosted tissue prior to transplantation showed vitality and intact morphology.