Different Shapes of the Human Parathyroid Glands – A Postmortem Study

Abstract

Context: The parathyroid glands are very essential for survival. Parathyroid related clinical conditions such as parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia are common. Different shapes of the human parathyroid glands have been identified. Knowledge of different shapes of the parathyroid gland is essential for surgeon, sonologist, pathologist for better diagnosis and management of parathyroid diseases.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was designed in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from January to December 2008 to see different shape of the parathyroid gland and was performed on post mortem parathyroid glands of 60 Bangladeshi people of different age, ranging from 15 to 75 years. A total of 207 parathyroid glands were taken from the cadavers. The samples were collected from the unclaimed dead bodies within 24-36 hours after death which were under examination in the Department of Forensic Medicine of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. Different shapes were observed by using a hand lens.

Results: Parathyroid glands were found to be oval (35.76%), leaf shaped (27.43%), spherical (24.76%), tear-drop shaped (2.41%), rod like (4.83%), sausage like (1.93%), pancake shaped (1.44%) and bean shaped (1.44%).

Key words: Parathyroid gland; shape of parathyroid.

DOI: 10.3329/jdmc.v18i1.6305

J Dhaka Med Coll. 2009; 18(1) : 44-46