Affiliations: [a] Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea | [b] Department of Nuclear medicine, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding authors: Junsun Ryu and Yuh-Seog Jung, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10408, Korea. Tel.: +82 31 920 1684/1685; Fax: +82 31 920 2799; E-mail: [email protected];[email protected].
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work as the co-first authors.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Autofluorescence imaging technology has been utilized for preserving or identifying parathyroid glands (PTGs) during thyroid surgery. We developed a wireless PTGs detection device linked with smart glasses that allows for real-time video recording and screen switching according to the light source. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to confirm the feasibility of the device and whether it would help preserve the PTG during the surgery. METHODS:This prospective study was conducted in 30 patients with 66 PTGs. The device’s agreement with the physician’s judgment was evaluated, and we determined how many PTGs were preserved from thyroidectomy. RESULTS: The positive agreement rate for PTGs detection between the surgeon and device was 70.9%. Inadvertent parathyroidectomy was identified in surgical specimens of 6 patients (20%). No PTG was removed when it was confirmed by the device (0/39). Of the 27 glands not detected by the device, there was inadvertent removal of 6 PTGs. CONCLUSIONS: PTGs can be preserved successfully when the detection of them by the device is consistent with the surgeon’s discretion. A large-scale controlled study is necessary to demonstrate the practical effect of this device on hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy.
