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Parathyroid Hyperplasia

Parathyroid Hyperplasia

What is Parathyroid Hyperplasia?

In benign or malignant parathyroid tumors, the disease often involves only one parathyroid gland. The other three glands are healthy. In hyperplasia, the disease affects all four glands. This situation has a plus and a minus.

The plus of parathyroid hyperplasia: Although the appearance is like a tumor, there is actually no tumor. There is only an increase in the number of cells in the gland.

The minus of parathyroid hyperplasia: The disease is in all parathyroid glands, not in one gland. Therefore, the surgeon needs to find all the glands in the operation (which is difficult) and remove all three parathyroid glands.

Parathyroid Tumors

Formations that originate from a tissue and form a mass are called tumors. There are two types of tumors: benign (benign) and malignant (malignant).

Tumors can sometimes be too small to be seen with the naked eye, and sometimes they can be so large that they push the surrounding organs and protrude from their location.

Parathyroid tumors usually do not exceed a few inches and are often invisible because they are trapped between the muscles in the neck region. They are rarely detected, even on palpation.

Benign (Benign) Parathyroid Tumors

Another name for benign parathyroid tumors is adenoma. 95% of parathyroid tumors are benign. So it’s not cancer. These are tumors that, as the name suggests, do not spread to the surrounding tissues, never go beyond their own capsule, and do not spread to other parts of the body via blood or lymphatic vessels.

Malignant (Malignant) Parathyroid Tumors

Another name for malignant parathyroid tumors is parathyroid cancer. They are quite rare. When a mass is detected in the parathyroid, the probability of it being malignant does not exceed 5%.

The difference between malignant parathyroid tumors and malignant tumors of other organs is that high calcium levels developing due to the tumor threaten the patient’s life, not the tumor itself. Calcium levels in the blood are very high in malignant tumors. This can cause sudden cardiac arrest by causing contraction disorders in the heart muscle.

Is Parathyroid Hyperplasia Related to Kidney Diseases?

Parathyroid hyperplasia has a very serious relationship with kidney diseases. Chronic renal failure is the most common cause of parathyroid hyperplasia. These patients often undergo dialysis. The longer the duration of dialysis, the higher the probability of hyperplasia of the patient’s parathyroid glands. The reason for this is not clear. However, the main factor is the deterioration of the natural function of the kidney, which can be summarized as “retaining calcium and removing phosphorus from the body”.

What is Parathyroid Hyperplasia Surgery and How Is It Done?

In Parathyroid Hyperplasia Surgery, an incision of 3-4 cm is made in the anterior part of the neck. The surgeon’s job is more difficult than adenoma surgery. Because in adenoma surgery, only one gland is a patient, it is enough for the surgeon to find and remove it.

In hyperplasia, the surgeon must find all four glands. Moreover, because the glands growing with hyperplasia are displaced, the surgeon often cannot find the hyperplasic parathyroids in their natural place. It’s like having to look for a needle in a haystack!

What is Parathyroid Adenoma Surgery and How Is It Done?

Parathyroid adenoma is a benign (benign) tumor of the parathyroid gland. Preoperative ultrasonography, scintigraphy, etc. If the location of the adenoma is detected in radiological tests, such as the surgeon’s and the patient’s job is relatively easier.

An incision of 3-4 cm is made in the anterior region of the neck. The adenoma in the detected place before the operation is found and removed. Both the operation and the recovery time of the patient are short.

Failure to detect the location of the adenoma in preoperative radiological tests complicates the surgeon’s work. Sometimes, it is necessary to work fine and patiently to find the adenoma, which can be in millimeter sizes. Sometimes, the incision made in the neck needs to be widened. Even if the location of the adenomas could not be determined before the operation, they cannot be escaped from the hands of experienced surgeons. However, there is always the possibility that the adenoma will not be found.

What Should Be Considered After Parathyroid Surgery?

After all kinds of parathyroid surgery (malignant tumor, adenoma, hyperplasia), some complaints of low calcium (numbness, tingling in the hands and lips) are seen. The level of these complaints varies depending on the high level of calcium in the blood in the preoperative period and its duration. However, often all complaints subside within a few days.