Clinical Characteristics for Early Recovery from Temporary Hypoparathyroidism in Patients Undergoing Total Thyroidectomy / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: Several reports have examined the predictors of temporary hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy; however, few have assessed the clinical predictors of early recovery from the condition. Here, we compared the clinical factors of early and late recovery groups of patients with temporary hypoparathyroidism. METHODS: The electronic medical records of 248 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from January 2012 to July 2013 and had parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels <10 pg/mL on the first postoperative day were examined retrospectively. The early recovery group showed recovery from PTH at two weeks postoperatively and the late recovery group showed recovery from PTH at one month postoperatively. RESULTS: The early recovery group included a lower proportion of males (8.6% vs. 23.7%, P<0.01) and a higher proportion of patients with more than three parathyroid glands saved (83.8% vs. 76.8%, P<0.04). There were no significant differences in the other variables examined. CONCLUSION: The early recovery group of patients with temporary hypoparathyroidism included a lower proportion of males and a higher proportion of patients with more than three parathyroid glands saved intraoperatively. These findings can be used as clinical indicators when discharge medication is prescribed.

Comparative Analysis of Three Lobectomy Methods for Papillary Thyroid Cancer / 대한내분비외과학회지

PURPOSE: The current study examined the validity and outcomes of three lobectomy methods for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), open surgery, minimally invasive videoassisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT), and endoscopic surgery. METHODS: Between January 2006 and June 2011, 360 patients underwent lobectomy for treatment of PTC. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Open lobectomy, MIVAT, and endoscopic lobectomy were performed in 170 (47.2%, Group A), 81 (22.5%, Group B), and 109 patients (30.3%, Group C), respectively. Median tumor size was 0.5 cm. RESULTS: No significant differences in tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and metastatic lymph node number were observed among the groups. However, the mean number of retrieved central lymph nodes was higher in the open surgery group than in the other groups (8.9, 4.9, and 5.8 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively P<0.05). Postoperative bleeding occurred in one patient each in Group A. Temporary hypoparathyroidism developed in ten, three, and three patients in Groups A, B, and C, respectively. Recurrence occurred in five cases (1.4%), however, no significant difference in short-term recurrence (median duration of follow up: 1,109 days) was observed among the three groups. CONCLUSION: The number of retrieved central lymph nodes was higher in the open surgery group. However, no differences in the incidence of complications or short-term recurrence were observed among the groups, indicating that either one of these methods can be recommended as limited surgery for PTC.