Intraoperative parathyroid hormone as an indicator for parathyroid gland preservation in thyroid surgery.

Background: Intra-operative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels have successfully been used to assess surgical ablation of parathyroid adenomas, the use of this same test to predict preservation of viable gland has not been widely used.

Aim: to test the sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative rapid PTH assay test in predicting permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism, and applicability to guide the search for inadvertently removed parathyroid glands for possible auto transplantation.

Patients And Methods: 52 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for non-malignant thyroid diseases were included.