Location of the Parathyroid Glands

Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO
  • In 1984 Göran Åkerström, on the basis of 503 necropsies, analysed the location of the parathyroid glands:
    • Together with the work of Gilmour (n=478) and Wang (n=160), they form the foundations of our current knowledge on the subject
  • Dr. Juan M. Rangone modified the diagrams from Åkerström’s original publication to come up with the percentages of location of the “normodescended” parathyroid glands:
  • A. Percentages of the different locations of the superior parathyroid glands:
    • 80% corresponds to the midglandular variant
    • 12% to the cricopharyngeal variant
    • Usually located 1 cm higher than the crossing of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid artery
  • B. Percentages of the different locations of the inferior parathyroid glands:
    • Roughly 90% are located at the level, or no more than 1 cm below the inferior pole of the thyroid gland
  • Image:
    • 1- External carotid artery.
    • 2- Superior thyroid artery.
    • 3- Inferior thyroid artery.
    • 4- Upper thyroid pole.
    • 5- Lower thyroid pole.
    • 6- Inferior laryngeal nerve (recurrent laryngeal).
    • 7- Pharynx.
    • 8- Cervical trachea.
    • 9- Larynx (thyroid cartilage).
  • Recommended Bibliography:
    • Åkerström G, Malmaeus J, Bergström R. (1984) Surgical anatomy of human parathyroid glands. Surgery 95(1):14-21.
    • Wang C (1976) The anatomic basis of parathyroid surgery. Ann Surg. 183(3): 271–275.
    • Gilmour JC (1938) The gross anatomy of the parathyroid glands. J Pathol Bacteriol. 46(1): 133-149.
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Published by Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO

My name is Rodrigo Arrangoiz I am a breast surgeon/ thyroid surgeon / parathyroid surgeon / head and neck surgeon / surgical oncologist that works at Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Miami, Florida. I was trained as a surgeon at Michigan State University from (2005 to 2010) where I was a chief resident in 2010. My surgical oncology and head and neck training was performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2012. At the same time I underwent a masters in science (Clinical research for health professionals) at the University of Drexel. Through the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I performed a two year head and neck surgery and oncology / endocrine fellowship that ended in 2016. Mi nombre es Rodrigo Arrangoiz, soy cirujano oncólogo / cirujano de tumores de cabeza y cuello / cirujano endocrino que trabaja Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology en Miami, Florida. Fui entrenado como cirujano en Michigan State University (2005 a 2010 ) donde fui jefe de residentes en 2010. Mi formación en oncología quirúrgica y e n tumores de cabeza y cuello se realizó en el Fox Chase Cancer Center en Filadelfia de 2010 a 2012. Al mismo tiempo, me sometí a una maestría en ciencias (investigación clínica para profesionales de la salud) en la Universidad de Drexel. A través de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Cabeza y Cuello / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center realicé una sub especialidad en cirugía de cabeza y cuello / cirugia endocrina de dos años que terminó en 2016.

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