About this disease
What it concerns
The most common form of parathyroid hyperfunction is so-called primary hyperparathyroidism. The parathyroid glands then produce too much parathyroid hormone. This is either a hormone-producing benign tumor or a functional overproduction. Parathyroid cancer is very rare.
Symptoms and consequences
The main symptoms of hyperparathyroidism are fatigue, extreme exhaustion, loss of performance and muscle pain. The uncontrollably high, pathological calcium concentration is further increased by the calcium reserves being leached out of the bone. The result is demineralization of the skeleton, leading to osteoporosis. Increased calcium excretion via the kidneys can lead to kidney stone formation with renal colic. Increased blood pressure values are typically also among the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism.
How we can help you
Examination and diagnosis
First and foremost is an ultrasound examination, and in most cases this is supplemented by scintigraphy of the parathyroid glands.
Treatment
Treatment is via a procedure called parathyroidectomy, the surgical removal of the excess-producing parathyroid gland. The operation is performed through a very small incision in the middle of the neck. The location of the parathyroid gland is carefully assessed before the operation and during the operation the drop of parathyroid hormone in the blood is measured. After the operation, the fatigue decreases and the damage to the kidney, vessels and bone recedes due to the normalization of calcium metabolism.