From the Research
No, the parathyroid glands should not be removed during a mastectomy, as this would lead to hypoparathyroidism, causing dangerously low calcium levels and potentially serious complications such as muscle cramps, numbness, seizures, and other serious health issues 1.
Key Points to Consider
- Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove breast tissue, while the parathyroid glands are located in the neck near the thyroid gland, and are essential for regulating calcium levels in the blood through the production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) 2.
- Removal of the parathyroid glands would cause hypoparathyroidism, and if a patient requires parathyroid surgery, this would be a separate procedure called a parathyroidectomy, which is typically performed to treat conditions like hyperparathyroidism 3.
- During a mastectomy, surgeons focus on breast tissue and possibly nearby lymph nodes, but they do not operate in the neck area where the parathyroid glands are located, and postoperative hypoparathyroidism after bilateral thyroid gland surgery or after interventions for recurrence is defined as intact parathyroid hormone levels (iPTH) < 15 pg/ml with simultaneous normal, below normal and markedly decreased serum calcium levels 4.
- The management of post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism however has not been extensively evaluated, and current recommendations on the management of post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism is based on low-quality evidence 5.
Clinical Implications
- Parathyroid glands are not typically removed during a mastectomy, and the focus of the surgery is on removing breast tissue and possibly nearby lymph nodes, with the parathyroid glands being located in a separate anatomical region and playing a crucial role in regulating calcium levels in the blood 1.
- The potential consequences of removing the parathyroid glands during a mastectomy, including hypoparathyroidism and its associated complications, highlight the importance of avoiding this practice and instead focusing on separate procedures for parathyroid surgery when necessary 2, 3.