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Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands
Parathyroid glands
Parathyroid glands


Parathyroid hyperplasia

Treatment:

Surgery is the preferred treatment. Usually 3 1/2 glands are removed. The remaining tissue may be implanted in the forearm to regulate calcium levels but allow easy surgical access if hypercalcemia recurs.



Expectations (prognosis):

The success rate for surgery for parathyroid hyperplasia is lower than that for parathyroid adenoma. Persistent or recurrent hypercalcemia occurs about 20% of the time.



Complications:

Advanced complications of hyperparathyroidism associated with parathyroid hyperplasia include nephrocalcinosis and osteitis fibrosa cystica.

Patients may also have complications from the other endocrine tumors that are part of the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes:

  • MEN 1 -- includes pancreatic and pituitary tumors, adrenal adenomas and lipomas
  • MEN 2A -- includes medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and pheochromocytoma


Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have any symptoms of hypercalcemia, or there is a family history of any of the MEN syndromes




Review Date: 8/12/2004
Reviewed By: Aniket R. Sidhaye, M.D., Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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