Our risk of postoperative biochemical hypocalcemia nomogram is an online prediction tool intended to help physicians and patients make decisions about treatment and long-term follow-up care. It may also be used by researchers to help design and evaluate clinical trials.
This nomogram can be used to predict the probability that a patient will have low serum calcium levels after undergoing surgery for the complete removal of the thyroid gland. It is based on information from nearly 400 patients with thyroid cancer treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering.
Who Can Use This Tool?
This nomogram can be used by healthcare professionals to plan the appropriate length of hospital stay for patients following complete removal of the thyroid gland. Patients deemed to be at high risk of low postoperative biochemical calcium levels are more likely to require a longer hospital stay. However, the presence of biochemical hypocalcemia does not necessarily indicate that a patient will experience symptoms of hypocalcemia.
If you are a patient, we recommend that you use this tool only in consultation with your healthcare provider.
What Information Will You Need?
You will need the following information to use this nomogram:
- Age: Patient’s age at the time of surgery.
- Gender: Male or female.
- Medications: Whether any medications given affect calcium levels.
- History of any cancer: Yes or no.
- Calcium level: Serum calcium level before surgery, measured in milligrams per deciliter.
- Creatinine concentration: Blood creatinine concentration before surgery, measured in milligrams per deciliter.
- Central neck dissection: Whether the procedure is intended to remove lymph nodes from the central portion of the neck.
- Alkaline phosphatase level: Blood alkaline phosphatase level before surgery, measured in units per liter.
If you are a patient, we recommend that you use this tool only in consultation with your healthcare provider.
Contact Us
If you have questions or comments about this prediction tool, please contact us at nomograms@mskcc.org.
