HyperparathyroidismSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which one or more of the parathyroid glands in your neck produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH).
Parathyroid-related hypercalcemia; Osteoporosis - hyperparathyroidism; Bone thinning - hyperparathyroidism; Osteopenia - hyperparathyroidism; High calcium level - hyperparathyroidism; Chronic kidney disease - hyperparathyroidism; Kidney failure - hyperparathyroidism; Overactive parathyroid; Vitamin D deficiency - hyperparathyroidism
There are 4 tiny parathyroid glands in the neck, near or attached to the back side of the thyroid gland.
The parathyroid glands help regulate calcium absorption, use, and removal by the body. They do this by producing PTH. PTH helps regulate calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels in the blood and bone. It is important for healthy bones.
When the blood calcium level is too low, the body responds by making more PTH. This causes the calcium level in the blood to rise.
If one or more of the parathyroid glands grow larger, it may lead to too much PTH. Most often (about 80% of the time), the cause is a benign tumor of the parathyroid glands (parathyroid adenoma). These benign tumors are common and happen without a known cause.
Hyperparathyroidism typically occurs between 40 and 65 years old and affects more women than men. Although it’s uncommon, it can occur in younger children.
Radiation to the head and neck increases your risk for hyperparathyroidism as do some genetic syndromes such as multiple endocrine neoplasia I (MEN I). In very rare cases, it's caused by parathyroid cancer.
Medical conditions that cause low blood calcium or high blood phosphate can also lead to hyperparathyroidism. Common conditions include:
- Ones that make it hard for the body to remove phosphate
- Kidney damage or failure
- Not enough calcium in the diet
- Too much calcium lost in the urine
- Vitamin D disorders (may occur in children who do not eat a variety of foods, and in older adults who do not get enough sunlight on their skin or who have poor absorption of vitamin D from food such as after bariatric surgery)
- Problems absorbing nutrients from food
Many people have no symptoms. The condition is often discovered when blood tests are done for another medical reason and people are found to have elevated calcium levels.
Symptoms can include:
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Confusion
- Depression and forgetfulness
- Feeling tired, ill, and weak
- Fragile bones of the limbs and spine that can break easily
- Increased amount of urine produced and needing to urinate more often (polyuria)
- Kidney stones
- Nausea and loss of appetite
If you have a mildly increased calcium level and don't have symptoms, you may choose to have regular checkups or get treated.
If you decide to have treatment, it may include:
- Drinking more fluids to prevent kidney stones from forming
- Exercising
- Not taking a type of water pill called thiazide diuretic
- Estrogen for women who have gone through menopause
- Having surgery to remove the overactive glands
If you have symptoms or your blood calcium level is very high, you may need surgery to remove the parathyroid gland that is producing too much PTH.
If you have hyperparathyroidism from a medical condition and have a low vitamin D level, your provider may prescribe vitamin D.
If hyperparathyroidism is caused by kidney disease or failure, treatment may include:
- Extra calcium and vitamin D
- Avoiding phosphates in your diet
- The medicine cinacalcet
- Dialysis or a kidney transplant
- Parathyroid surgery, if the PTH level becomes uncontrollably high
North Hills Health Center - Specialty Clinics
Joseph Shaker is an Endocrinologist practicing medicine in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. Dr. Shaker is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hyperparathyroidism. He is also highly rated in 19 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Milk-Alkali Syndrome, Hypercalcemia, Hyperparathyroidism, Parathyroidectomy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Shaker is board certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes And Metabolism and Internal Medicine. Dr. Shaker is currently accepting new patients.
Brigham And Women's Hospital
Brenessa Lindeman is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. She has been practicing medicine for over 17 years. Dr. Lindeman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hyperparathyroidism. She is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Hyperparathyroidism, Parathyroid Hyperplasia, Thyroid Nodule, Parathyroidectomy, and Thyroidectomy. Dr. Lindeman is currently accepting new patients.
CUIMC/Milstein Hospital Building
James Lee is a General Surgeon practicing medicine in New York, New York. Dr. Lee is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hyperparathyroidism. He is also highly rated in 19 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hyperparathyroidism, Parathyroid Hyperplasia, Parathyroid Adenoma, Parathyroidectomy, and Pancreatectomy. Dr. Lee is board certified in Surgery. Dr. Lee is currently accepting new patients.
The outlook depends on the cause of hyperparathyroidism.
Long-term problems that can occur when hyperparathyroidism is not well controlled include:
- Bones that become weak, deformed, or can break
- High blood pressure and heart disease
- Kidney stones
- Long-term kidney disease
Parathyroid gland surgery can result in hypoparathyroidism and damage to the nerves that control the vocal cords.
Summary: To evaluate the potential usefulness of 11C/18F-MET/FET positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) for the diagnosis of primary and metastatic lesions in various amino acid transporter system (AATS)-related disease patients.
Summary: The goal of this study is to address surgical health equity in historically marginalized participants with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The main questions that this study aims to answer are, how does patient navigation impact: * The proportion of PHPT participants undergo parathyroidectomy? * The proportion of PHPT participants who complete surgical consultation? * Time to surgical consulta...
Published Date: May 18, 2026
Published By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Shonka DC, Reid LM, Russell MD, et al. Management of parathyroid disorders. In: Francis HW, Haughey BH, Hillel AT, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 121.
Thakker RV. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 227.
Walker MD, Bilezikian JP. Primary hyperparathyroidism. In: Robertson RP, ed. DeGroot's Endocrinology: Basic Science and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 54.