Incidence and Histopathological Features of Intrathyroidal Parathyroid Excision: A High-Volume Single-Center Retrospective Study

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Background:Intrathyroidal parathyroid glands represent a rare anatomical variant and are recognized as a potential risk factor for incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery. Their intraoperative identification is challenging due to their atypical localization.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 4,231 thyroid surgeries conducted at a single center between January 2015 and December 2025. Patients with histopathologically confirmed intrathyroidal parathyroid tissue were included. Demographic data, type of surgery, histopathological findings, and pre- and postoperative serum calcium and PTH levels were evaluated. Postoperative hypocalcemia resolving within six months was defined as transient, whereas persistent hypocalcemia beyond six months was considered permanent.Results:Intrathyroidal parathyroid tissue was incidentally excised in 19 patients, corresponding to an incidence of 0.45%. All affected patients were female, with a mean age of 28.6 ± 11.4 years. Histopathological examination demonstrated that the majority of excised parathyroid glands were structurally normal. Transient hypocalcemia occurred in three patients (15.8%) and resolved within six months. No cases of permanent hypocalcemia were observed. No statistically significant changes were detected in postoperative calcium or PTH levels.Conclusion:Intrathyroidal parathyroid glands are an uncommon anatomical variant that may be incidentally excised during thyroid surgery. In this series, their removal was not associated with permanent hypocalcemia. These findings highlight the importance of anatomical variability in the evaluation of incidental parathyroidectomy and postoperative biochemical outcomes.