Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

Learn about the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and our masking policy »

Stanford Health Care

Parathyroid Autofluorescence in Pediatric Thyroid Surgery: Experience With False Positive and False Negative Results. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Su-Velez, B. M., Hartman, G. E., Seeley, H., Orloff, L. A., Noel, J. E., Meister, K. D. 2023

Abstract

Devices for near-infrared light stimulation of autofluorescence (NIRAF) allow for intraoperative identification of parathyroid glands with high sensitivity in adults. However, their performance in the pediatric population is unknown. In this case series with chart review at a tertiary academic children's hospital, we investigated pediatric patients undergoing thyroid surgery and concurrent use of a probe-based NIRAF device. Thirteen patients (ages 6-18 years) underwent thyroid and/or neck dissection procedures, and 2 patients had revision procedures for a total of 15 cases with the NIRAF device. Eight cases had NIRAF values that matched surgeon opinion of parathyroid tissue or histology when available. Six cases had false positive NIRAF readings (40.0%) and 1 case had false negative readings (6.7%). Compared with surgeon opinion or histology, the NIRAF device confirmed 26 of 34 parathyroid gland candidates (76.5%). These devices need further investigation in pediatric patients, whose tissues may have different autofluorescence characteristics.

View details for DOI 10.1002/ohn.272

View details for PubMedID 36939554