The parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands located in the neck, behind the thyroid gland. Most individuals have four parathyroid glands, the parathyroid glands play a crucial role in regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body.
Para Thyroid Adenoma
Parathyroid adenoma (means non-cancerous tumor), one of the parathyroid glands develops a benign tumor, causing it to produce excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone. This leads to a condition called hyperparathyroidism, characterized by elevated levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). The excess calcium can result in a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, kidney stones, bone pain, excessive urination, abdominal pain, and digestive problems.
Symptoms of Parathyroid Adenoma
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Lethargy (lack of energy)
- Depression
- Decreased appetite or Nausea
- Excessive urination
- Weak bones or fractures
- Pain in muscle or abdomen
- Osteoporosis
What causes parathyroid adenoma
Main cause of Parathyroid adenoma it’s not well known however 10% of the people have it because of the genetic reasons. Radiation exposure at the young age in the head or neck region may increase the risk of adenomas. Lack of calcium for a long time in your diet could also be the reason to raise the risk.
Complications of Parathyroid Adenoma
- Untreated parathyroid adenomas cause a rise in calcium levels in your blood. An extremely high amount can cause:
- Irregular heartbeats (cardiac arrhythmia).
- Parathyroid crisis (a clinical event in which a person experiences mental changes that can lead to nervous system failure and coma).
- Death.
How to diagnose parathyroid adenoma
Diagnosis of a parathyroid adenoma typically involves blood tests to measure calcium and PTH (para thyroid hormone) levels, as well as imaging techniques like ultrasound, nuclear scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to locate the adenoma.
Treatment Parathyroid Adenoma:-
Parathyroidectomy- Surgery is the most common treatment for parathyroid adenoma. The removal of one or more parathyroid gland can make you feel better by improving overall quality of life.
Microwave Ablation- As one of the most recent and exciting advances among thermal ablation techniques, microwave ablation (MWA) has been used for the treatment of PHPT. Most studies have shown that MWA could effectively inactivate nodules and normalize serum PTH, calcium, and phosphorus.
Advantages of Microwave Ablation over Parathyroidectomy
Minimally invasive: It is performed through a small incision, which leads to less scarring or big cut and a shorter recovery time compared to traditional surgery(Parathyroidectomy).
Local anesthesia: The procedure can often be performed under local anesthesia, avoiding the need for general anesthesia which is need in Parathyroidectomy.
Day care procedure: Microwave ablation can be performed as a day care procedure, allowing the patient to return home on the same day.
For more information consult Intervention Radiologist in your nearby hospital or us.
