Parathyroid topic pages are arranged in groups. Normal parathyroid gland function is presented first. The second section discusses parathyroid disease and parathyroid gland problems such as over-production of parathyroid hormone, symptoms and potential complications of hyperparathyroidism including osteoporosis. The third section presents the treatment of parathyroid disease including the 'old' standard operation and the new and much improved minimal parathyroid operation -- where almost all parathyroid patients can have their problem cured forever in less than 20 minutes! This "band-aid" operation can change your life! The latest advances in parathyroid surgery are discussed and illustrated at length. The fourth section discusses problems in finding small parathyroids and the importance of an experienced surgeon. The last section has pages for RARE parathyroid gland problems. If you are reading Parathyroid.com, then you probably have a parathyroid tumor that needs to be removed. You must educate yourself or you have a high chance of the parathyroid tumor not being diagnosed or removed in a timely fashion. There are not very many parathyroid experts out there... so you need to educate yourself.

Section 1:  Introduction to Parathyroid Glands

Introduction to Parathyroid Glands.  This page is the preferred starting point to learn what parathyroid glands are, where parathyroid glands are located in our necks, and what parathyroid glands do.

Normal Parathyroid Gland Function.  How parathyroid glands control the calcium in our blood, nervous system, and bones. If you have high calcium, you almost certainly have a parathyroid problem.

Section 2:  Parathyroid Disease and Hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism is the principle disease of parathyroid glands. It occurs when one of the parathyroids develops a tumor which makes too much parathyroid hormone. It's all about the Calcium! Later you will read that a very simple operation will cure you... but you must read this page to get started.

The Symptoms of too much parathyroid hormone (hyper-parathyroid-ism) are variable. Most people have symptoms...(read this list). A few don't realize they have a problem until the parathyroid tumor is removed and they begin to feel dramatically better. Many of you will be amazed what this tumor will do to you...

Diagnosing Hyperparathyroidism and parathyroid disease is very easy. Blood calcium levels and parathyroid hormone levels will make the diagnosis. If you have high calcium, you almost certainly have a parathyroid tumor. Parathyroid glands control calcium...... got a calcium problem?... look at parathyroid function. This is the ONE page you need to copy and take to your doctors!

Osteoporosis is a huge problem that is caused by parathyroid disease. Remove the parathyroid tumor and regain bone density and bone strength. This is the only kind of osteoporosis that is 100% reversible.

Age Distribution of Parathyroid Disease.  Although parathyroid disease occurs most commonly in people over 50, young people get it also! This page shows who gets hyperparathyroidism and how common it is for all age groups.

Pictures and Photos of Parathyroid TumorsThis is our newest page. We have put photos of the tumors we removed from our patients during a two week time period. This will allow you to see what parathyroid adenomas look like and compare your calcium and PTH levels to others who have already had surgery... so you can see what may be in your neck. Very informative. This is a must read page for everybody.

Causes of Parathyroid Disease.  How parathyroid disease occurs and how it is due to high secretion of parathyroid hormone is covered on a different page. This page is very advanced and discusses why and how the parathyroid glands develop into tumors. Don't start here, it will confuse you. This should be one of the LAST pages you read.

Causes of High Blood Calcium.It is never normal (never "OK") to have a high blood calcium. This page discusses all the different diseases that can cause your blood calcium to go too high. Most people do not need to read this page... all these diseases are too rare and you don't have them... you have parathyroid disease. This page should only be read if your doctor told you that your high calcium might be caused by cancer...almost certainly its NOT cancer..... it is almost certainly caused by a benign tumor of your parathyroid gland.

Low Vitamin D Levels. More than one third of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have low vitamin D levels in their blood. This is the body trying to protect itself, but is VERY COMMONLY MISUNDERSTOOD BY ENDOCRINOLOGISTS. This is one of our more advanced pages and should only be read after you understand the basics of parathyroid disease. Read about surgery before you read this. Most people do not need to read this page. If your doctor told you that you have low vitamin D, you MUST READ THIS!

Diagnosing Hyperparathyroidism--ADVANCED.This page is complex and is written for doctors. If you are a patient you should read this page only after you have read our FIRST page on the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism. This is an IMPORTANT page you need to copy and take to your doctors! If you have not read a lot about parathyroid disease you will get confused. DON'T READ THIS FIRST!  Read about parathyroid surgery and watch the movie before you read this page... although this is our best page for doctors and patients who just can't get enough.

Section 3:  Treatment of Parathyroid Disease and Hyperparathyroidism:
Old 'Big' Parathyroid Surgery and New 'Mini' Parathyroid Surgery

The Standard Parathyroid Operation.  Since 1925 the treatment for parathyroid disease (hyperparathyroidism) has been surgery. This 'standard' parathyroid operation is still performed today like it was back then...but almost NOBODY needs this big operation (thank goodness!). Please... avoid this big operation... none of the experts do it this way anymore! If your surgeon doesn't do at least one parathyroid operation every week or two, then go somewhere else!

Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery.  Mini-parathyroid surgery (MIRP) was invented in 1995. This page discusses how virtually ALL parathyroid patients should have mini-surgery instead of the 'standard' parathyroid operation -- But you MUST find an experienced parathyroid surgeon... All patients should read this page and the next.

The MIRP Procedure.  NOTE: This is a MUST READ SECTION !  This page of Parathyroid.com goes into the details of the MIRP procedure--a mini operation that cures over 99% of parathyroid patients. The operation uses only minimal anesthesia, typically takes about 16-17 minutes on average, and patients go right home about one or two hours later. Heck, the incision is usually only 1 inch!    Click Here to see the archived movie of this operation as it happened live June 14th, 2005. It includes a short lecture by Dr Norman. This is the state of the art in parathyroid treatment. There is no blood. This is very informative!! Sit back, watch this movie, and learn!

Read What Endocrinologists Think about minimal parathyroid surgery procedure.  It's the operation 97% of endocrinologists would have.

Who is Eligible to Have a MIRP Mini-Parathyroid Operation?  EVERYONE can have radioguided assistance during a mini-parathyroid surgery. Don't have the big surgery--it is simply too major of an operation when a mini-procedure has a higher cure rate (over 99.5% by some surgeons) and a much lower complication rate (almost zero). Make sure you find an expert parathyroid surgeon.

Surgery Cure Rates.  The cure rate following parathyroid surgery can be dramatically altered by the experience of the surgeon. Even the New York Times has written about this problem! Be careful about choosing your surgeon for this operation! This is a MUST READ SECTION!

Section 4:  Localizing (finding) the Bad Parathyroid Gland

Finding the Bad Parathyroid Gland.  Parathyroid Glands are normally very small and can be very hard to find--but modern tests can help predict which parathyroid has gone bad. Your surgeon's experience is the MOST important factor in finding the bad parathyroid gland! Also discusses the danger of parathyroid needle biopsy.

Sestamibi Scanning is by far the best way to determine which parathyroid gland developed a tumor. The scan is VERY dependent upon experience of the people doing the scan. If they don't do hundreds per year, the scans are usually worthless. Several more pages on SPECT Scanning, MRI, & CAT Scan are also here. Please don't let your doctors waste your time and money on a CAT scan or MRI scan! Got a bum knee?..get an MRI scan. Got a parathyroid problem?.. avoid the MRI scan.

Do I have Just One Bad Parathyroid Gland? is by far the most common question ever asked. The answer is Yes!  Ninety-five percent of all patients have just one bad parathyroid gland (a single tumor) and three normal parathyroid glands. However, most people will have a sestamibi scan done poorly (keep reading!) and they will tell them they have 4 bad glands... you do not... you just had an x-ray that didn't show the parathyroid tumor... its there, but the x-ray didn't show it (often because the x-ray was poorly performed). This is a MUST READ page.

Parathyroid Anatomy is described on this page--if you understand parathyroid anatomy you will understand why parathyroid surgery requires a lot of experience! The more experience your surgeon has, the higher the chance of cure and the lower the chance of complications.

Needing a Second Operation -- because the one bad parathyroid gland was not found. This page is for those of you who have had an unsuccessful operation ... and now need a second (or third) operation to find that elusive parathyroid tumor. This is most commonly caused by a surgeon with little parathyroid surgery experience. We perform an average of 2 re-operations EVERY DAY.

Section 5:  Rare Parathyroid Problems
HypO-parathyroid disease, parathyroid cancer, parathyroids & pregnancy, and others...
[Do NOT start here--these are rare problems]

Parathyroid Cancer is extremely RARE.  Do NOT start reading this web site here!  Less than 1 in 1000 of parathyroid tumors are cancers. Almost all are BENIGN parathyroid tumors. A lot of people read this page, but really nobody should read it... Parathyroid cancer is so rare... you don't have it! Go to a different page!!!

Hyp0parathyroidism is an uncommon complication of parathyroid or thyroid surgery--when all the parathyroids have been removed. This is HypO = too little.  Not good... This is almost always due to removal of all 4 parathyroid glands by a surgeon with little experience performing parathyroid surgery.

Surgeon-Induced HypOparathyroidism. This page shows the results of the world's largest study of patients who were made hypoparathyroid by a surgeon who mistakenly removed all of their parathyroid glands. How it effects these people's lives and the skill level of their surgeon is examined in detail. This is hyp0parathyroidism... too little parathyroid hormone due to a surgeon's mistake.

Treating Parathyroid Disease with Sensipar.  Sensipar (Cinacalcet) is a drug made for patients with SECONDARY hyperparathyroidism due to kidney failure who are on dialysis. It has been tried on patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (what this entire web site is about) and it doesn't work, and make make patients WORSE. This drug should NOT be used unless you are on dialysis!

Parathyroid disease during Pregnancy. This is a RARE problem, but it can be very serious for both mother and child. The pregnant female with a parathyroid tumor needs an experienced surgeon!

MEN Syndromes are a rare familial disorder where three endocrine glands develop tumors, including the parathyroid glands. This is also incredibly rare... so don't waste too much time reading about this!

View Our Table of Contentsto see all of the parathyroid pages listed with a brief description.

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