Prevalence of parathyroid removal during total thyroidectomy in Rasoul Akram and Firozgar hospitals during 2013- 2014: A case-series study

Introduction: It is not a routine to remove the parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy except when they are ischemic or have malignancy. In this study, the prevalence of parathyroid removal during total thyroidectomy was assessed. Methods: In this case-series study, 53 consecutive patients under total thyroidectomy in two general hospitals during 2013-2014 were enrolled. Serum parathormone values of the patients were assessed, and radioactive iodine uptakes were studied to check for preserved parathyroid gland in the postoperative phase. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS 14.0. Results: This study incorporated fifty-three consecutive patients under total thyroidectomy who were treated in Rasoul Akram and Firozgar general hospitals from 2013 to 2014. Forty-six patients (86.8%) had no parathyroid removal and 13.2% had parathyroid removal. Four patients had intra-thyroidal parathyroid gland in permanent pathology. Conclusions: One-eighth of the subjects under total thyroidectomy would experience parathyroid removal which would not be a significant contributor, indicating a low chance of parathyroid removal during total thyroidectomy.