Seoul National University Bundang Hospital researchers develop method to predict parathyroid dysfunction

Researchers at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital have developed a method to predict the risk of parathyroid dysfunction during robotic total thyroidectomy. The study, led by Professors Jun-Young Choi and Ja-Kyung Lee, utilizes Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence imaging to assess blood flow to the parathyroid glands during surgery.

While surgeons typically attempt to preserve the parathyroid glands, physical preservation does not guarantee functional success if the surrounding microvasculature is damaged. This damage can lead to hypocalcemia, causing symptoms such as muscle spasms and numbness. The new method combines the number of parathyroid glands with confirmed blood flow—as seen through the surgical robot's camera—with pre-operative hormone levels to estimate post-operative hormone levels.

The research demonstrated high accuracy, with 73% of patients showing a difference of within ±5pg/mL between the predicted and actual post-operative parathyroid hormone levels. This advancement allows for early identification of high-risk patients, enabling optimized post-operative care through targeted calcium and vitamin D supplementation.