Parathyroid surgery procedures
The parathyroid glands are four pea-sized glands located in the neck near the thyroid gland
- Occasionally one or more of the parathyroid glands may be embedded elsewhere in the neck, such as in the thyroid, in the thymus, or located in the chest – in most of these situations, the glands function normally
- The parathyroids and thyroid are part of the endocrine system which control body functions by the production of hormones – though their names are similar, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are entirely different glands, each producing distinct hormones with specific functions
- The parathyroid glands purpose is to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), a hormone that helps maintain the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body
- PTH regulates the level of calcium in the blood, release of calcium from bone, absorption of calcium in the intestine, and excretion of calcium in the urine – when the level of calcium in the blood falls too low, the parathyroid glands secrete just enough PTH to restore the blood calcium level
![Parathyroid Surgery parathyroid-surgery-Sydney](https://ent-surgery.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/img312.jpg)
Why are calcium and phosphorus so important?
- Calcium is essential for good health – it plays an important role in bone and tooth development and in maintaining bone strength
- Calcium is also important in nerve conduction and muscle function and strength
- Phosphorus is found in all bodily tissue – it is a main part of every cell with many roles and combined with calcium, phosphorus gives strength to the bones and teeth
Parathyroid disease
What is hyperparathyroidism?
- Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid gland makes more of the PTH than it needs, causing an imbalance in the amount of calcium in the body
- This can lead to problems with the bones, muscles, nervous system, and kidneys
- Hyperparathyroidism is caused by inappropriately increased secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- If the parathyroid glands secrete too much hormone (PTH), the balance is disrupted and the blood calcium level rises
- This condition of excessive calcium in the blood, called hypercalcaemia, is the first sign that something may be wrong with the parathyroid glands
- “Primary” means this disorder originates in the parathyroids: One or more enlarged, overactive parathyroid glands secretes too much parathyroid hormone (PTH), inappropriate to the serum calcium level
- In 85 % of people with primary hyperparathyroidism, a benign tumour called an adenoma has formed on one of the parathyroid glands, causing it to become overactive
- In most other cases, the excess hormone comes from two or more enlarged parathyroid glands, a condition called hyperplasia – very rarely, hyperparathyroidism is caused by cancer of a parathyroid gland.
- Excess PTH triggers:
- The release of too much calcium into the bloodstream
- The bones may lose calcium
- Too much calcium may be absorbed from food
- The levels of calcium may increase in the urine, causing kidney stones
- PTH also lowers blood phosphorus levels by increasing excretion of phosphorus in the urine
When is parathyroid surgery needed
- Parathyroid gland surgery is needed where there is:
- Overactivity of one or more gland
- Parathyroid cancer (a very rare condition)
- Surgery to remove a parathyroid gland is called a parathyroidectomy
Parathyroid surgery treatment
- Surgery to remove the enlarged parathyroid gland (or glands) is the main treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism and cures it in 95 percent of patients
- Surgery may be a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy procedure or an open parathyroidectomy