The Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Department of Otorhinolaryngology

Parathyroid Diseases


The parathyroid glands reside in close proximity to the thyroid gland in the neck. Parathyroid hormone is released into the bloodstream to regulate calcium levels. Calcium is absorbed in the digestive tract, stored in bone, and released into the urinary tract. Hormones released from the parathyroid gland work in all areas of the body to maintain appropriate levels of calcium in the bloodstream.

In some patients, elevated levels of calcium in the bloodstream can be a sign of a benign tumor of the parathyroid glands called parathyroid adenoma. A parathyroid adenoma can release too much parathyroid hormone into the bloodstream and raise blood calcium levels. Abnormally high levels of calcium can cause many symptoms including kidney stones, abdominal pain, mood changes, and bone pain. Some patients with a parathyroid adenoma may have no symptoms but are identified through routine blood tests that measure calcium levels.

Parathyroid adenomas are treated with surgical removal. In the majority of cases, preoperative testing can identify the location of the affected parathyroid gland in the neck, assisting in the identification and removal of the adenoma through a very small incision. In more complex cases, the adenoma may evade detection using traditional imaging studies and require a precise surgical exploration of the neck to identify and remove it. For this reason, parathyroid surgery should only be performed by surgeons who regularly operate in the neck. The UT-Houston Head and Neck Oncologic Surgeons work alongside Endocrinologists in the treatment of parathyroid diseases.