Surgical tactics of parathyroidectomy: Should we abandon the use of ioPTH?

Anatomical and physiological knowledge of the parathyroid glands is fundamental for achieving curative surgery by an endocrine surgeon. The upper parathyroid glands originate from the fourth pharyngeal pouch, and the lower ones from the third, along with the thymus. Therefore, it is possible to find some of the lower parathyroids inside the thymus or even in the anterior mediastinum, while the upper ones can migrate to the posterior mediastinum (Fig. 1).1 The ectopic location of a pathological parathyroid gland is a common cause of parathyroidectomy failure and persistent hyperparathyroidism.
Source: American Journal of Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: My Thoughts / My Surgical Practice Source Type: research