Parathyroid Surgery

The parathyroid gland consists of four organs about the size of a lentil and is located in the immediate vicinity of the thyroid gland. Even though the parathyroid glands are very small, they have a vital task in regulating calcium metabolism.

If parathyroid hyperfunction occurs, more calcium is released from the bones and released into the bloodstream. This is called hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). The increased calcium that is released is missing from the bones and is deposited elsewhere in the body, for example in the kidneys and gallbladder, in the form of kidney stones or gallstones. But psychological changes also occur. Patients often report a pronounced weepiness or depressive mood.

We diagnose a parathyroid adenoma by means of endocrinological blood tests, an ultrasound of the parathyroid glands, a bone density measurement, as well as special nuclear imaging, scintigraphy.

If pHPT is caused by a parathyroid adenoma, surgical therapy is necessary. Analogous to thyroid surgery, we also perform parathyroid surgery through the smallest possible incision above the cervical fossa. If possible, we also make this incision disappear in a pre-existing neck fold in order to achieve an optimal cosmetic result. By using special, very small instruments, we can operate in a way that is particularly gentle on the tissue.