# The Role of Parathyroid Hormone Level as a Predictor of Hypocalcemia After Total Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study shows that measuring parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels can help predict hypocalcemia after thyroid cancer surgery.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates PTH's moderate predictive power for hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy.

## Key findings

- 25.5% of patients with hypoparathyroidism experienced hypocalcemia.
- PTH levels were significantly associated with post-surgical serum calcium levels.
- The odds of hypocalcemia were five times higher in patients with hypoparathyroidism.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the utility of measuring parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels as a predictor of hypocalcemia in a population of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer between 2016 and 2019. We conducted an observational, analytical, descriptive, cross-sectional investigation, assessing PTH levels as a predictor of hypocalcemia following thyroidectomy. Among patients with hypoparathyroidism, 25.5% experienced hypocalcemia, while 74.5% had normal serum calcium levels. The likelihood of hypocalcemia was five times higher in patients with hypoparathyroidism (OR: 5.43; 95% CI: 1.89-15.6), a statistically significant finding (p < 0.05). Additionally, PTH values at 24 hours post-surgery averaged 28.9 pg/mL (SD: 30.8 pg/mL), ranging from 0.01 to 235 pg/mL. Serum calcium levels averaged 8.31 mg/dL (SD: 0.74), with values ranging from 6.5 to 10.6 mg/dL. The study demonstrates a statistically significant association between PTH levels and post-surgical serum calcium levels, albeit with moderate predictive power. These findings support the utility of PTH measurement in predicting hypocalcemia following thyroidectomy, underscoring its potential clinical relevance in patient management.