Successful autotransplantation of the parathyroid glands during total thyroidectomy for carcinoma.

In a consecutive series of 118 total thyroidectomies during a period of 11 years, autotransplantation of one or more parathyroid glands was used in 64 patients. During the first nine years of this series, autotransplantation was used in only 25 per cent of the total thyroidectomies, with a 3 per cent incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism. During the last two years, autotransplantation of the parathyroid was used in 89 per cent of 54 total thyroidectomies, with a zero incidence of hypoparathyroidism.