Parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid gland and regulate the amount of calcium in your blood. Parathyroid disease occurs when one or more of the parathyroids develop a tumor which causes them to secrete too much parathyroid hormone, increasing blood calcium levels. There are three main conditions that affect the parathyroid gland.
Parathyroid disease refers to three conditions that affect the parathyroid gland:
Hyperparathyroidism develops when the parathyroid produces too much PTH. Overproduction of PTH can cause too much calcium to develop in the blood, resulting in osteoporosis and kidney stones.
Hypoparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid glands do not produce enough PTH. Under production of PTH causes the calcium levels in the blood to drop significantly
Parathyroid cancer most often occurs in middle-age and is extremely rare.
Parathyroid disease is first diagnosed via a visit to your ENT. Your doctor will examine your neck area checking for lumps or enlarged glands related to your thyroid. The next step would be a blood test in order to assess the amount of calcium that is present in your blood. Depending on the results, additional imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI or ultrasound, may be requested to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
Surgery (parathyroidectomy) to remove the affected parathyroid gland can cure the condition. Surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure and in some patients can even be performed with only local anesthesia (minimally invasive parathyroidectomy).
copyright 2022 © South Florida ENT Associates. | Privacy Statament
