Parathyroid HyperplasiaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Parathyroid Hyperplasia
Parathyroid hyperplasia is the enlargement of all 4 parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands are located in the neck, near or attached to the back side of the thyroid gland.
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The parathyroid glands help regulate calcium absorption, use, and removal by the body. They do this by producing parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH helps regulate calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D levels in the blood and bone. It is important for healthy bones.
Parathyroid hyperplasia may occur in people without a family history of the disease, or as part of 3 inherited syndromes:
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia I (MEN I)
- MEN IIA
- Isolated familial hyperparathyroidism
In people with an inherited syndrome, a changed (variant) gene is passed down through the family. You only need to get the gene from one parent to develop the condition.
- In MEN I, problems in the parathyroid glands occur, as well as tumors in the pituitary gland and pancreas.
- In MEN IIA, overactivity of the parathyroid glands occurs, along with tumors in the adrenal or thyroid gland.
Parathyroid hyperplasia that isn't part of an inherited syndrome is much more common. It occurs due to other medical conditions. The most common conditions that can cause parathyroid hyperplasia are chronic kidney disease and chronic vitamin D deficiency. In both cases, the parathyroid glands become enlarged because vitamin D and calcium levels are too low.
Symptoms may include:
- Bone fractures or bone pain
- Constipation
- Lack of energy
- Muscle pain
- Nausea
If parathyroid hyperplasia is due to kidney disease or low vitamin D level and it is found early, your health care provider may recommend that you take vitamin D, vitamin D-like medicines, and other medicines.
Surgery is usually done when the parathyroid glands are producing too much PTH and causing symptoms. Usually 3 1/2 glands are removed. The remaining tissue may be implanted in the forearm or neck muscle. This allows easy access to the tissue if symptoms come back. This tissue is implanted to prevent the body from having too little PTH, which can result in low calcium levels (from hypoparathyroidism).
Reading Hospital Endocrinology & Diabetes Center Wyomissing
. Dr. Gabriely is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Parathyroid Hyperplasia. His top areas of expertise are Low Blood Sugar, Hyperparathyroidism, Thyroid Cancer, and Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.
Endocrine Surgery And Oncology Clinic
Dr. Julie Ann Sosa is an endocrine surgeon who specializes in thyroid cancer. She also has expertise in treating adults and children for a variety of benign and malignant endocrine conditions of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. She chairs the UCSF Department of Surgery. Sosa's research focuses on developing treatments for advanced thyroid cancer and understanding environmental factors that can raise a person's risk for the disease. She also has published extensively on predictors of optimal patient outcomes following a variety of cancer-based procedures. Sosa earned her medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she also completed the Halsted residency in general surgery and served as chief resident. She completed a fellowship in clinical research with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at Johns Hopkins, where she was also assistant chief of service and an instructor. She has a master's degree in human sciences from the University of Oxford. Prior to joining UCSF, she was chief of endocrine surgery at Duke University, and held leadership positions at the Duke Cancer Institute and Duke Clinical Research Institute. Sosa is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is the elected editor-in-chief of the World Journal of Surgery, and had previous positions as deputy editor of JAMA Surgery and associate editor of the Journal of Surgical Research. She serves on the editorial boards of seven medical journals, including the Annals of Surgery, Surgery, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Endocrine and International Journal of Endocrine Oncology. She serves on the boards of the Society of Surgical Oncology, International Thyroid Oncology Group, Association for Academic Surgery Foundation and American Thyroid Association, where she is also treasurer. She is the Leon Goldman, MD Distinguished Professor of Surgery at UCSF. Sosa was born in Montréal and raised in upstate New York. Dr. Sosa is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Parathyroid Hyperplasia. Her top areas of expertise are Thyroid Cancer, Parathyroid Hyperplasia, Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Thyroidectomy, and Parathyroidectomy.
ENT Head & Neck Specialists PC
. Dr. Driben is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Parathyroid Hyperplasia. His top areas of expertise are Thyroid Nodule, Infant Hearing Loss, Parathyroid Hyperplasia, and Familial Isolated Hyperparathyroidism.
After surgery, a high blood calcium level may persist or return. Surgery can sometimes cause hypoparathyroidism, which makes blood calcium level too low.
Parathyroid hyperplasia can cause hyperparathyroidism, which leads to an increase in blood calcium level.
Complications include increased calcium in the kidneys, which can cause kidney stones, and osteitis fibrosa cystica (a softened, weak area in the bones).
Surgery can sometimes damage the nerves that control the vocal cords. This can affect the strength of your voice.
Complications may result from the other tumors that are part of the MEN syndromes.
Contact your provider if:
- You have any symptoms of hypercalcemia
- You have a family history of a MEN syndrome
If you have a family history of the MEN syndromes, you may want to have genetic screening to check for the variant gene. Those who have the variant gene may have routine screening tests to detect any early symptoms.
Published Date: May 20, 2024
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.
Reid LM, Kamani D, Randolph GW. Management of parathyroid disorders. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 123.
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. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 54.