Latent hypoparathyroidism in patients with autotransplanted parathyroid glands.

Eighteen patients had undergone radical surgery for thyroid carcinoma. In all of them four parathyroid glands had been verified by frozen-section biopsy and removed. Thereafter two, three or four glands wereautotransplanted into muscle tissue. At least 1 year after the operation the patients underwent a calcium deprivation test. Before the test they all had normal serum calcium values without treatment. During the test seven patients remained normocalcemic, seven became hypocalcemic, and four had occasional low serum calcium values. After the test all were normocalcemic again. Patients with only autotransplanted parathyroid glands left after surgery should be tested for latent hypoparathyroidism.