Parathyroid Cancer

Parathyroid cancer is very rare. In the United States, fewer than 100 people are diagnosed with parathyroid cancer each year. It occurs mostly in people in their 40s and 50s.

What are the parathyroid glands?

Your thyroid and parathyroid glands are completely different organs. The name parathyroid just describes the fact that these tiny glands are close to the thyroid gland. Almost everybody has four parathyroid glands although some people have more than twice that number. Each parathyroid gland is about the size of a grain of rice, but they have a big influence on your health. Parathyroid glands regulate your body’s calcium levels, which can affect your heart, kidneys, bones and nervous system.

Parathyroid glands are generally located just in back of the thyroid gland, at the front of the throat. But sometimes they’re found in other places, including the chest or even inside the thyroid gland.

Who’s at risk for parathyroid cancer?

Risk factors for parathyroid cancer include:

  • Radiation exposure (including radiation treatments to the head and neck)
  • long-term lithium use are risk factors for parathyroid cancer.
  • HRPT2 gene mutation. People with this inherited gene mutation may decide to undergo prophylactic (risk-reducing) surgery or have their doctor keep an eye on the situation so any problems can be caught early.

If you have a family history of parathyroid cancer, Roswell Park's Genetic Screening team can help you understand what this history may mean for your personal risk so you can make an informed decision about whether you and/or your children should undergo testing for any inherited gene mutations.

For more information, or to make an appointment for genetic screening, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355).

What are the symptoms of parathyroid cancer?

Symptoms of parathyroid cancer include:

  • High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)
  • A lump or swelling in the neck
  • Fatigue or lack of energy; sluggishness; sleepiness
  • Depression
  • Frequent urination
  • Poor appetite, possibly accompanied by upset stomach and vomiting

Getting a diagnosis for parathyroid cancer

Parathyroid cancer can be challenging to diagnose. One reason is because the cells of a benign (noncancerous) parathyroid adenoma and the cells of parathyroid cancer look similar. If parathyroid cancer is suspected, your doctor will take a detailed personal and family history of endocrine diseases and malignancies, thoroughly examine your neck and may order a blood calcium test to determine if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). Imaging tests may also be ordered to help find which of your parathyroid glands is overactive. Parathyroid cancer is usually diagnosed after surgical removal of an overactive parathyroid gland, called a parathyroidectomy.

Prior to the surgery to remove your overactive parathyroid gland, you may undergo one or more of the following tests:

  • Parathyroid CT (computed tomography) scan
  • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging
  • Biopsy to retrieve cells for examination by a pathologist

Treating parathyroid cancer

Parathyroid cancer is usually treated by removing the affected parathyroid glands, a procedure called parathyroidectomy. In most cases, surgeons will also remove part of the thyroid gland (the “lobe” on the same side as the parathyroid gland that is being removed, plus the “isthmus” — the connection between the two thyroid lobes) as well as lymph nodes around the targeted parathyroid gland and any tissue connected to the tumor.

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