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Parathyroid transplantation

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Abstract

This is a review of our current experience with the technique of parathyroid transplantation in man. We have performed 68 autografts and 2 allografts. The indications for parathyroid autotransplantation include primary and secondary parathyroid hyperplasia, repeat neck exploration for persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism, and total thyroidectomy for carcinoma. Indications for allotransplantation include the unsuccessful medical management of hypoparathyroidism and complete DiGeorge's syndrome. Graft function was successful in a high percentage of cases as documented by a normal serum calcium concentration with the grafted parathyroid tissue as the only source of parathyroid hormone, by detecting high concentrations of PTH in the antecubital vein draining the grafted arm and, histologically, by light and electron microscopy of the grafts.

Résumé

Revue de notre expérience de transplantation des parathyroïdes chez l'homme: 68 autogreffes et 2 allogreffes. Les indications de l' autotransplantation sont l'hyperplasie primitive ou secondaire des parathyroïdes, les réinterventions pour hyperparathyroïdie persistante ou récidivante et la thyroïdectomie totale pour cancer. Les indications de l'allotransplantation sont les échecs du traitement médical de l'hypoparathyroïdie et le syndrome de DiGeorge complet. Dans un pourcentage élevé de cas, ces transplants sont fonctionnels, comme le prouve la calcémie normale, le tissu greffé étant la seule source d'hormone parathyroïdienne, les doses élevées de PTH dans les veines drainant le bras où la greffe a été faite et l'étude en microscopie optique et électronique du tissu transplanté.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, 27710, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Samuel A. Wells Jr. M.D., Jerry A. Stirman Jr. M.D. & R. Morton Bolman III M.D.

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  1. Samuel A. Wells Jr. M.D.
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  2. Jerry A. Stirman Jr. M.D.
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  3. R. Morton Bolman III M.D.
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Additional information

Supported by Grant RR30 from the General Clinical Resources Center Program of the Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health and by a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation.

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Wells, S.A., Stirman, J.A. & Bolman, R.M. Parathyroid transplantation. World J. Surg. 1, 747–754 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01555931

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