Successful implant of long-term cryopreserved parathyroid glands after total parathyroidectomy.
BACKGROUND
Parathyroid cryopreservation is essential in some cases of parathyroid surgery. The fate of autografted tissue after long-term cryopreservation is not fully discussed in the literature.


METHODS
The successful experience with the use of parathyroid tissues preserved for 21 months and 30 months is reported.


RESULTS
Both patients were women with renal hyperparathyroidism who underwent total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation. Patient 1 was a 40-year-old woman. At 21 months of follow-up, her parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was undetectable, and despite oral calcium supplements, she was hypocalcemic. Forty-five cryopreserved fragments were thawed and implanted in her forearm. Calcium levels improved, and PTH steadily increased in both arms. PTH levels at 18 months after the autograft were 37.0 pg/mL in the contralateral arm and 1150.0 pg/mL in the implant arm. Patient 2 was a 44-year-old woman. After 30 months, her PTH was undetectable, and she underwent cryopreserved tissue implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
These cases show that parathyroid tissue may remain viable even after long-term storage.
de Menezes Montenegro
Fábio Luiz
FL
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil. fabiomonte@uol.com.br
Custódio
Melani Ribeiro
MR
Arap
Sérgio Samir
SS
Reis
Luciene Machado Dos
LM
Sonohara
Shigueko
S
Castro
Inês Vieira
IV
Jorgetti
Vanda
V
Cordeiro
Anói Castro
AC
Ferraz
Alberto Rosseti
AR
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000209:etiology; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D016105:Parathyroidectomy; D013997:Time Factors; D014022:Tissue Survival; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
D010281:Parathyroid Hormone