PARATHYROID ADENOMA

DEFINITION

Parathyroid adenomas are non-cancerous (benign) tumors of the parathyroid glands, which are located in the neck. The parathyroid glands are four pea-sized organs found near the thyroid gland. There are no other organs in the body that are present 4 times. When the 4 parathyroid glands are formed (before we are born), they migrate from one part of the neck to another. It is this migration of the parathyroid glands that makes finding them tricky later in life. The parathyroid anatomy is the most variable anatomy in the human body. The parathyroid glands can be located from just below the jaw to the area around the heart. These glands make parathyroid hormone (PTH or parathormone). PTH helps the body use and store calcium to keep the calcium in the blood at normal level.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

Parathyroid adenomas are generally caused by a problem with your genes. The parathyroid glands help control the break down of calcium in the body. The most common cause of parathyroid adenomas is hyperparathyroidism, which leads to high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). The hypercalcemia caused by hyperparathyroidism is more serious and life threatening than parathyroid cancer itself. Women over 60 are at highest risk, and radiation to your head or neck also increase your risk.
Many people have no symptoms. The condition is often discovered by accident when you are being examined for another problem. Symptoms that may occur include the following:
§ Lethargy
§ Confusion
§ Nausea
§ Constipation
§ Myalgias (muscle pain)
§ Kidney stones
§ Bone fractures

EXAMS AND TREATMENT

Blood tests are done to check the levels of serum calcium, serum phosphorus, serum chloride, and serum bicarbonate.
A 24 urine test is done to check for increased calcium in the urine.
Other exams include:
§ Bone density exam
§ Kidney x-rays (may show kidney stones)
§ Ultrasound or CT (may show kidney stones)
§ MRI or Tc-thallium neck scan (may show enlarged parathyroid glands)
§ Sestambi scan: a radionuclide scan used to find an overactive parathyroid gland.

Surgery is the most important treatment. The goal when performing parathyroid surgery is to remove only the bad parathyroid gland and leave the good one. Remember, in about 95% of the time, its only one parathyroid gland that has become diseased (it grows into a benign tumor about the size of an olive or grape). Some postmenopausal women might consider estrogen replacement and many patients with mild hyperparathyroidism are not treated but are monitored for escalation of symptoms.

For more info go to: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/artcle/001188.htm
http://www.cancer.gov/ , http://parathyroid.com/