Fate of human thyroid tissue autotransplants.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted this study to establish whether human thyroid tissue autografts can survive and function in the absence of their native blood supply in muscle. The benefits of this potential could be incorporated in routine surgery to reduce the incidence of post-operative hypothyroidism.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with benign thyroid disorders, seven of whom had Graves' disease and eight, multinodular goiter (MNG), underwent modified subtotal thyroidectomy and the autotransplantation of thyroid tissue in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. About 3-5 g of thyroid tissue was cut and implanted into the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Postoperative clinical assessment, thyroid function tests, and technetium scans of the neck were done to assess the function of remnant and transplanted thyroid tissue.


RESULTS
The transplanted tissue was functional in six of the eight patients with MNG and four of the seven with Graves' disease. All the patients with MNG and a functional transplant became euthyroid within 6 months postoperatively. Although the transplanted tissue was functional in four patients with Graves' disease, only one became euthyroid, while the other three required supplemental hormone therapy for postoperative hypothyroidism.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrate the ability of autotransplanted thyroid tissue to survive, function, and grow in muscle.
Roy
Pankaj Gupta
PG
Department of Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College and associated Lok Nayak Hospital, 110 002, New Delhi, India.
Saund
Mandeep S
MS
Thusoo
Tej K
TK
Roy
Debabrata
D
Sankar
Rajan
R
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006085:Graft Survival; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m