Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation of excised parathyroid tissue. Permanent hypoparathyroidism and chronic hypocalcemia can be a debilitating complication of a total parathyroidectomy. If a total parathyroidectomy is performed, cryopreservation provides a safety net should the autograft fail or prove hypofunctional.

Cryopreserved tissue will remain viable for a long time, probably years. This can be reimplanted if the need arises, although the need for reimplantation is an admittedly rare event.

If cryopreservation is to be performed, all parathyroid tissue should be placed on ice immediately after excision. Any tissue chosen for reimplantation or cryopreservation should be examined by frozen section to ensure correct identification.

Tissue chosen for cryopreservation must then be placed into medium supplied by the cryopreservation unit and transported to the facility on ice. Most standard pathology laboratories will not be able to perform cryopreservation.