Abstract
We examined the parathyroid function preservation of 13 hypopharyngeal carcinoma patients who underwent bilateral neck dissection and hemithyroidectomy. At the time of neck dissection, ligature of the common facial vein, the area where the superior thyroid vein flows into the jugular vein, middle thyroid vein and inferior thyroid veins, was performed. We kept surgical capsule of the thyroid gland and connective tissue existing between carotid sheath, and surgical capsule of the thyroid gland in the area to be surrounded with common carotid artery, superior thyroid artery, upper pole of thyroid gland, inferior thyroid artery (non-touch preservation) and kept the thyroid gland attached to the trachea in 12 of 13 cases, the calcium level was within normal range by the third day. In one case with long-term fistula, temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred. We were able to finally keep parathyroid function in all 13 cases.
