Endocrine Surgery
Parathyroid Surgery
The parathyroid glands are very small and lie behind the thyroid gland in the neck.
The primary disease of parathyroid glands is overactivity (excessive levels of parathyroid hormone) leading to high levels of calcium in the blood stream (hypercalcemia). This leads to a clinical condition called hyperparathyroidism.
With this condition, one or more of the parathyroid glands behaves inappropriately by making excess hormone regardless of the level of calcium and is not listening to the normal levels of the body.
The symptoms may be very vague but typically are related to kidney stones, joint pains and fractures. Abdomimal pain, lethargy and depression are also symptoms. The condition occurs most commonly in elderly people.
The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism is made by blood test and urine tests which will also exclude other causes of hypercalcaemia.
Your clinicians in the Combined Endocrine Clinic will assess your situation and decide whether surgery or ongoing observation is in your best interests.
Before surgery is embarked upon, imaging scans such as ultrasound, CT, MRI and Sestamibi tests will be carried out.
The aim of surgery is to remove the abnormal overactive parathyroid gland(s).
Most people can go home the day after surgery. It is rare for your voice to be affected, but if this happens, your vocal cords will be checked by the ENT department.
It is routine to have a follow up blood test in out patients two months after surgery.
Related Information
Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) & Surgical Removal of Parathyriod Glands