Download Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Primary Hyperparathyroidism
What are parathyroid glands?
There are 4 parathyroid glands at
the front of your neck just behind
the thyroid gland. They are
usually about the size of pea and
make parathyroid hormone which
is released into the blood. This
hormone regulates the level of
calcium in the blood by controlling
the absorption of calcium from
food in the gut, the loss of calcium
in the urine and the release of
calcium from the bones.
What is primary
hyperparathyroidism?
This is a medical condition where
one or more of the parathyroid
glands grows and produces too
much parathyroid hormone. This
can increase the blood and urine
calcium levels and lead to loss of
calcium from the bones.
What are the symptoms of
primary hyperparathyroidism?
Some people do not experience
any symptoms and are found to
have the condition from blood tests
for calcium. Others experience
weakness, pain, bone fractures or
kidney stones.
The Ottawa Hospital, Riverside Campus
The Foustanellas Endocrine and Diabetes Centre
2009
Why does primary
hyperparathyroidism have these
effects?
If you have primary
hyperparathyroidism, more
calcium is coming out of your
bones than is going back in and
they can become weak. The
calcium from your bones increases
the calcium in your bloodstream,
causing you to feel tired. Your
body will excrete the extra calcium
into your urine which can lead to
kidney stones.
How does my doctor know which
parathyroid glands are
abnormal?
A parathyroid scan will often tell if
one or more glands are enlarged.
However, parathyroid glands are
quite small and sometimes
abnormal parathyroid glands can
not be seen on this scan. Other
scans are sometime done but
occasionally it can only be
determined at surgery which
parathyroid glands are abnormal.
How is primary
hyperparathyroidism treated?
Surgical removal of the abnormal
parathyroid glands usually solves
the problem. However, if all four
parathyroid glands are abnormal,
the surgeon will usually leave part
of one gland so there is still some
parathyroid hormone in the body.