July - September 2017, Volume 13, Issue 3

Cherenko SM, Dinets A, Bandura GV, Sheptuha SA, Larin OS

Multiglandular Parathyroid Gland Disease: an Incidental Discovery in Normocalcemic Patients During Thyroid Surgery

Acta Endo (Buc) 2017, 13 (3): 349-355
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2017.349

Context. Several enlarged parathyroid glands could be found during thyroid surgery in normocalcemic patients without evidence of primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, indicating multiglandular parathyroid gland disease (MGD). Objective. Clinical role of various levels of serum ionized calcium (Ca2+) in patients diagnosed with incidental MGD during thyroid surgery remains controversial. The aim of the study was to evaluate the features of PHPT and the clinical role of serum Ca2+ in normocalcemic patients diagnosed with incidental MGD. Study design. A prospective study of patients with normal preoperative Ca2+ to be operated on for thyroid diseases in 2010-2013 and diagnosed with MGD during thyroid surgery. Methods. An analysis of clinical data from 3,561 patients to be surgically treated for thyroid diseases revealed 219 (6%) patients with MGD and normal serum Ca2+. Further data analyses showed patients with MGD and high normal (≥1.25 – 1.3 mmol/L) serum Ca2+ (n = 89) and with moderate-low (1.0 – 1.24 mmol/L) serum Ca2+ (n = 130). Results. Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed intra- and post-operatively in 48 (54%) patients with high-normal serum Ca2+ and in 2 (2%) patients with moderate-low serum Ca2+ (p<0.0001). Parathyroid hormone, serum Ca2+ as well as urine calcium excretion were elevated in 2 (2%) patients with moderate-low serum Ca2+ and in 18 (20%) patients with high-normal Ca2+ at follow-up (p<0.0001). Conclusion. Serum Ca2+ level within the normal range, but higher than 1.25 mmol/L (high-normal) is associated with primary hyperparathyroidism, which should be considered in patients with visually diagnosed MGD, but without clinical symptoms of hyperparathyroidism.

Keywords: parathyroid enlargement, multiglandular parathyroid disease, normocalcemic, thyroid surgery

Correspondence: Sergii M. Cherenko MD, PhD, Professor, Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Center for Endocrine Surgery, Department of Endocrine Surgery, Klovskii uzviz 13a, 01021 Kyiv, Ukraine, E-mail: sergmakar5@gmail.com