Parathyroid autotransplantation in thyroid surgery

Background Careful parathyroid gland dissection and in situ preservation was the time-honored approach to prevent parathyroid failure after total thyroidectomy. The relative success of parathyroid autotransplantation of hyperplastic parathyroid tissue in patients with renal or hereditary hyperparathyroidism did popularize the use of normal parathyroid tissue autografts during thyroidectomy to prevent permanent hypoparathyroidism. Proof of autograft function in this setting, however, is controversial.