Parathyroid glands can suffer from disorders. Generally, a primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is produced, this is a disease due to an excess of the circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH) which is produced by a tumour or a diffuse growth. The excess of hormone produced causes the bones to decalcify and calcium to circulate in the blood.
Usually this disease does not give any recognisable or specific symptoms, although patients may suffer from headaches, irritability, osteoarticular pain, even a nephritic colic, osteoporosis ... as the majority of patients are female, these symptoms are often attributed to menopause.
Diagnosis of parathyroid diseases is simple. It is usually carried out with a detailed discussion and a routine blood test, which will show increased levels of calcium and PTH. Once we have these two analytical parameters, a cervical ultrasound and a cervical scintigraphy bone scan (SPECT-MIBI) should be requested to confirm the diagnosis and locate the problematic gland. If the gland cannot be located, other types of tests can be performed, such as an MRI or cervical CT.
When we have a PHPT diagnosis, the normal course of treatment is to operate. A parathyroidectomy operation is performed to remove the offending gland(s) and normally this is sufficient to solve the problem.
El diagnostic de les enfermetats de la paratiroides no es complicat, el 99% dels pacients en curen amb una operació en mans d'un cirurgià expert.
The procedure to remove the parathyroid glands does leave visible scars but they are minimal. Surgery is performed using the minimum incision necessary technique (MINP, minimal incision necessary for parathyroidectomy) or cervical endoscopy. Both of these approaches are carried out using microsurgical glasses and endoscopic support of the latest generation.
In many parts of the world, parathyroidectomy operations are performed with an incision of 4 to 6cm in the middle of the neck. However, we perform a mini-incision of 1.5 cm or several of less than 1 cm and the tumour or the diseased parathyroid gland are removed through these. They are very small incisions that do not leave any type of unsightly scar.
When the diseased parathyroid gland has been removed, the patient is cured.
Cuando extirpamos la paratiroides enferma, el paciente está CURADO
