Alternative Names
Parathyroid carcinoma
Definition of Parathyroid cancer
Parathyroid cancer is a cancerous () growth in a parathyroid gland.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The parathyroid glands are responsible for managing the calcium levels in the body. There are four parathyroid glands, two on top of each lobe of the thyroid gland. They are located at the base of the neck.
Symptoms
Symptoms of parathyroid cancer are primarily caused by high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), and may affect various parts of the body. They include:
Signs and tests
Parathyroid cancer is extremely hard to diagnose.
Treatment
The following treatments may be used to correct hypercalcemia due to parathyroid cancer:
Expectations (prognosis)
Parathyroid cancer is a rare cancer. The tumor is slow growing. Surgery may help extend life even when the cancer spreads.
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 3/2/2010
