AN UPDATE ON MORPHOMETRY OF HUMAN PARATHYROID GLAND– A POSTMORTEM STUDY

A collective assessment of all the morphometric measurements like size, weight, color and shape of the parathyroid gland is important in the determination of its normalcy. After that the histological examination for stromal and intracellular fatty content helps to determine the normalcy of the gland. There have been several studies on morphology of human parathyroid gland, but the grand total of cases accurately recorded, so far as I have been able to collect them from the literature, is comparatively small. Further till now there is no study done on area and volume of parathyroid gland. It seemed therefore that a careful study of additional cases is needed.  This study was conducted on 60 autopsy specimens in the department of anatomy in collaboration with the department of forensic medicine. A total 203 parathyroid glands were identified in relation to posterior border of thyroid gland in 60 post-mortem specimens. In the present study the average size including length, breadth, and thickness of parathyroid is 5.12 x 3.18 x 1.15mm. Average area and volume of parathyroid gland is 31.23 mm² and 11.23 cu.mm. The average weight of parathyroid gland in the present study is 38.67mg. The smallest parathyroid weigh 7.8 mg and largest is 133.3 mg. Shape of the gland also varies greatly, it can be oval, spherical or elongated.