ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the clinicopathological risk factors and reliable biochemical predictors of the development of hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy plus central compartment node dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods A study was performed on 93 patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy with central compartment node dissection due to PTC.The rate of hypoparathyroidism was calculated.We evaluated the correlations between hypoparathyroidism and clinicopathological factors by chi-square test and logistic regression model for multivariate analysis.The prediction value of PTH and serum calcium level was assessed by a 2×2 contingency table and ROC curve analysis.Results Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was found in 46 patients (49.5％) and 2 with permanent hypoparathyroidism.Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (P=0.034),perithyroidal extension (P=0.003),bilateral cancer(P=0.045)and bilateral central neck dissection (P=0.028)were risk factors for postoperative hypoparathyroidism in patients with PTC.Multivariate analysis showed that perithyroidal extension (P=0.003) and bilateral central neck dissection(P=0.044)were independent risk factors for postoperative hypoparathyroidism in patients with PTC.ROC curve analysis showed that PTH level in the first after operation played significant roles in predicting hypoparathyroidism(AUC 0.875).Conclusions Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication after total/near-total thyroidectomy.Perithyroidal extension and bilateral central neck dissection are the important risk factors of hypoparathyroidism.The level of PTH is a reliable and early predictive indicator of postoperative hypoparathyroidism.