Parathyroid Gland Disorders
In most patients with parathyroid problems, there is an enlargement of a single parathyroid gland that produces too much parathyroid hormone. These abnormal glands also lose their ability to sense the higher levels of calcium in the blood and turn off the production of hormone when this occurs. Over time, the increasing levels of calcium in the body can cause symptoms typically related to hyperparathyroidism: muscle weakness, decreased alertness, memory loss, fatigue, bone loss, frequent urination, kidney stones and bone or joint discomfort.
The primary treatment for hyperparathyroidism is surgical removal of the abnormal parathyroid glands while leaving normally functioning parathyroid glands in place to regulate the calcium in the blood. Intraoperative monitoring of parathyroid hormone enables endocrine surgeons to confirm that the problematic gland has been excised and hence, surgical cure.
There are several techniques and variations in the approach to removal of parathyroid glands. The two most common are exploration of all four glands or a minimally invasive (also known as directed or focused) parathyroidectomy, or a technique involving preoperative testing to attempt to locate the abnormal parathyroid gland and focus the surgical approach toward that abnormal gland.
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