Parathyroid Disorders

Parathyroid Care at UVM Cancer Center

Parathyroid disorders affect the small parathyroid glands in the neck, which play a vital role in regulating calcium levels in the blood and bones. When these glands produce too much or too little parathyroid hormone, it can lead to a range of symptoms — from fatigue and bone loss to kidney stones and muscle weakness. Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where the parathyroid gland(s) become abnormally enlarged.

At University of Vermont Health, you’ll receive care from skilled and experienced specialists offering advanced treatments for parathyroid disorders in a supportive, caring environment. Our physicians take a coordinated, team-based approach to parathyroid care and work together to develop a personalized treatment plan for you.

Why Choose UVM Health?

As a leading cancer program in the region, we offer:

Expert team: Our expert endocrinologists work alongside surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and radiologists with expertise in parathyroid disorders. These specialists work together to plan your treatment and deliver advanced, comprehensive care.
Innovation: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physician-leaders are also active researchers, many of whom train the next generation of experts. Our physicians participate in clinical trials that can provide you with access to new therapies that are not widely available.
Convenience: Our network of specialists gives you access to services in clinic locations throughout Vermont and northern New York. We coordinate appointments whenever possible, so you can see multiple experts in one day and make fewer visits to your clinician's office.

Symptoms of Parathyroid Disorders

When a benign tumor (adenoma) forms on one of the parathyroid glands, the gland can grow and become overactive. An overactive parathyroid gland produces too much parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism), which causes calcium stored in the bones to move into the blood (hypercalcemia).

Common signs and symptoms of parathyroid conditions include:

Weakness
Feeling very tired
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Unexplained weight loss
Excessive thirst and urination
Constipation
Trouble thinking clearly

Other symptoms may include:

Pain in the abdomen, side or back that doesn’t go away
Pain in the bones, or a broken bone
A lump in the neck
Change in voice, such as hoarseness
Difficulty swallowing

Cancer Care

Clinical Trials

The UVM Cancer Center supports more than 100 active clinical trials focused on prevention, screening, treatment, supportive care and survivorship.

View open trials

Diagnosing Parathyroid Disorders

Tests that examine the neck and blood are used to diagnose parathyroid disorders. These include:

Blood chemistry tests: Measure calcium levels in the blood
Parathyroid hormone test: Measure the amount of parathyroid hormone released into the blood by the parathyroid glands
Sestamibi scan: Finds an overactive parathyroid gland, using a small amount of a radioactive substance that is injected into a vein and collects in the overactive gland

Imaging tests may also be necessary to identify which of the parathyroid glands is overactive, as they can often be hard to find.

Parathyroid Disorder Treatment

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for parathyroid disorders. The following surgical procedures may be used:

En bloc resection: Surgery to remove the entire parathyroid gland and possibly the lymph nodes, part of the thyroid gland, and muscles, tissues, or nerves in the neck
Tumor debulking: A surgical procedure that removes as much of the tumor as possible
Metastasectomy: Surgery to remove cancerous cells that have spread to distant organs, such as the lungs

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are always part of care team discussions. Participation in a clinical trial is entirely voluntary and can give you access to new care methods years before they are widely available. If you are eligible for a specific trial, your specialist will explain the benefits and risks of participating.