RESUMEN
Parathyroid glands always remain at risk of damage during the thyroid surgery as they lie in close proximity to the thyroid gland. Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands that produce parathyroid hormone. The major function of parathyroid hormone is to maintain the level of calcium and phosphate within a narrow range in the body. Aim of the present study was to locate and identify the parathyroid glands during thyroid surgery and to observe their relationship with the surgical landmarks. The present study was a prospective study conducted in the department of otorhinolaryngology and HNS in SMGSH, GMC, Jammu for a time period of 1 year from Nov.2015 to Oct. 2016. 40 patients undergoing thyroid surgery were included in the study. Meticulous technique was employed during dissection and parathyroid glands were identified in the surgical field. Location of the each parathyroid gland was determined in relation to a nearby surgical landmark. The study included 12 right (R) and 8 left (L) hemithyroidectomies, 10 sub- total thyroidectomies and 1 total thyroidectomy. An average of 1.2 parathyroid glands were identified in hemithyroidectomies and 2.4 was the average number of parathyroid glands identified in subtotal and total thyroidectomies. Location of parathyroid glands was observed in relation to cricothyroid (CT) joint, recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), inferior thyroid artery (ITA) and tubercle of Zukerkandl for superior parathyroid glands, and in relation to RLN, RLN & ITA junction, tubercle of Zukerdandl & lower pole for inferior parathyroid glands. In this study RLN was the most frequent landmark for identification of superior parathyroid gland while the inferior parathyroid glands were frequently seen related to the lower pole of the thyroid gland.