Ep. 200 Identifying Parathyroid Glands: Challenges and Innovations with Dr. Michael Singer

Can technology improve the accuracy of parathyroid tissue identification during surgery? In this episode of Backtable ENT Podcast, Dr. Gopi Shah and Dr. Ashley Agan welcome Dr. Michael Singer, an otolaryngologist specializing in minimally invasive parathyroid and thyroid surgery at Henry Ford Health in Michigan. --- This podcast is supported by: Medtronic ENT https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/specialties/ear-nose-throat.html --- SYNPOSIS First, Dr. Singer discusses various aspects of identifying parathyroid glands during surgery, differentiating between hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia, and the impact of concurrent thyroid disease on patient outcomes. He highlights the importance of continuous improvement and being open to new technologies, specifically the use of autofluorescence and fluorescence imaging to enhance surgical accuracy and patient safety. The conversation also addresses the practical applications of these technologies, including the Medtronic PTeye parathyroid detection system, and their potential to change the approach to thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. Throughout the discussion, Dr. Singer emphasizes the importance of being honest with oneself as a surgeon in order to improve skills and provide the best care for patients. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 04:37 - Challenges in Identifying Parathyroid Glands 12:14 - Preoperative Workup and Imaging 16:41 - Understanding Hypoparathyroidism and Hypocalcemia 23:25 - Surgical Techniques and Identifying Parathyroid Glands 33:48 - New Technologies in Parathyroid Surgery 43:15 - Challenges and Benefits of New Surgical Technologies 44:49 - Practical Applications and Personal Experiences 59:33 - Impact of Technology on Surgical Practices 01:08:40 - Final Thoughts and Continuous Learning --- RESOURCES BackTable+ for ENT https://plus.backtable.com/pages/ent Dr. Singer’s profile https://www.henryford.com/physician-directory/s/singer-michael