Fine-Needle Pricking Test of the Parathyroid Gland during Thyroid Surgery in Predicting Parathyroid Function

Figure 1

Representative parathyroid gland fine-needle pricking (FNP) test images. (a) A well-vascularized parathyroid gland (FNP score of 2). a-5, the blood covering the gland was cleared by suction. At a-6, blood was still oozing out from the incision of the gland. (b) A moderately well-vascularized parathyroid gland (FNP of score 1). b-5, the blood covering the gland was wiped by gauze. b-6, small and slow blood oozing from the incision of the gland was detected (black arrow). (c) A devascularized parathyroid gland (FNP score of 0). c-5, no blood oozing out from the incision of the gland waited for 10 to 20 seconds after the pricking. c-6, no blood oozing out after more times pricking of the gland.