Estimation of the parenchymal-cell content of the parathyroid gland, using density-gradient columns. Preliminary report.

The parenchymal cell mass was measured by the density-gradient technique. The results of this technique were compared with those obtained by an ocular semiquantitative method as described by Gilmour and Martin. In most parathyroid glands good correlation was found between the two methods. In contrast to the method of Gilmour and Martin the density-gradient technique is easy and rapid and therefore seems to be a more convenient tool in intraoperative diagnosis.