Treatment for a Parathyroid Adenoma with Parathyroidectomy
You can ask any medical authority about the condition known as parathyroid disease or hyperparathyroidism (they are usually one and the same), and what you will discover is that most would recommend the removal of the affected parathyroid gland.
The human body has four of these glands located behind the thyroid gland. These four small glands are in charge of regulating calcium levels in the body, and this is why any problems with them can generally result in a calcium deficiency in the bones or a flood of calcium in the bloodstream, among other similar conditions.
Typically, someone develops parathyroidism when a benign tumour develops on one of the glands. This is also known as parathyroid adenoma. The tumour itself is not going to cause any bodily harm, but it will cue the gland to create tremendous amounts of parathormone also know as PTH or parathyroid hormone. This keeps a steady supply of the hormone in the bloodstream, and this is an indicator to the body that calcium levels must be “boosted”. This can only be done by taking calcium from the bones, and the result is usually osteoporosis.
As if that were not bad enough, the condition also comes with a long list of complaints. Because there are no known medications to alleviate someone of the symptoms of this unusual condition, it is normal for a physician to suggest that the tumour (along with the tiny gland) is removed.
The Other Symptoms
In addition to the osteoporosis, the other symptoms are problematic because they generally make the individual feel extremely poorly.
For example, a standard list of symptoms relating to hyperparathyroidism includes:
- A sense of grouchiness prompted by the other symptoms
- Fatigue at a chronic level
- Lack of concentration and interest
- Sense of depression
- Bone pain of the arms and legs
- Poor sleep
- GORD or acid reflux
- Low libido
- Kidney stones from too much blood calcium
- High blood pressure
- Migraine headache
- Irregular heartbeat
- High liver test results
- Thinning hair, among other symptoms
What is so remarkable is the simple fact that removing the tumour can bring the problems to an end almost immediately. In fact, most patients with parathyroid adenoma and the development of hyperparathyroidism report feeling better in a matter of days after the procedure.
Naturally, there is the need to monitor the other glands and all related blood levels, and to seek to restore any of the loss in bone density (this is the only cause for osteoporosis that can be reversed !), but the parathyroidectomy is considered a good remedy.
The Statistics
According to the medical literature, there are some very clear cure rates for the problem, and they include:
- When all four of the glands are scrutinized the cure rates are reported up to 100%
- The experience of the surgeon plays a key role in the long term outcome because it is a relatively uncommon surgical treatment
- Because parathyroid glands are only the size of a grain of rice it can be a difficult procedure and choosing the right surgeon is key to success
- Hyperparathyroidism can be caused by two or more of the glands
- Complications of an incomplete surgery may be worse than the symptoms of the disease
What this tells us is that it is of the utmost importance to have an experienced surgeon assess the situation and perform the parathyroidectomy. This is a treatable issue but the best way is to work with an experienced parathyroid professional.
If you have questions or concerns about parathyroid gland problems or hyperthyroidism see your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a thyroid surgeon.
