Parathyroid Adenoma

Parathyroid Adenoma is a benign tumor of the parathyroid gland that produces parathormone. This elevates serum calcium levels by mobilizing body calcium stores. Long term calcium elevation can severely damage kidneys. The tumor can be located in any of four parathyroid glands located in the thyroids. Each thyroid has an extracapsular parathyroid located at it cranial end and an intracapsular parathyroid located near its caudal end. If a large tumor is located the other three are often atrophied from elevated calcium suppression. Meticulus hemostasis during the exploration of the neck looking for a parathyroid lesion is important since a bloody surgical field can complicate mass identification. Post operative calcium and vitamin D therapy may be necessary until suppressed parathyroid tissue recovers from its preoperative suppression.