A parathyroid adenoma is a benign tumor on one of the parathyroid organs that include four small glands sited close to or at the back of the thyroid gland. These glands produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). These hormones regulate the amount of phosphorus and calcium in the blood.
A parathyroid adenoma makes the impacted gland discharge more PTH than it ought to. This upsets the calcium and phosphorus balance in the body. This condition is known as hyperparathyroidism.
Symptoms of Parathyroid Adenoma
For individuals who have this medical condition, there is a decent opportunity that you won’t encounter any symptoms of parathyroid adenoma. Individuals often identify they have one of these tumors after a blood test for any other medical problem.
However, these tumors can cause hyperparathyroidism. Hence, these tumors are one of the reasons for hyperparathyroidism. This condition is related to these tumors that can develop problems in bones since the calcium level is impacted. You might experience issues with bones as they may be weak, painful, or fragile.
According to Dr. Valeria Simone MD, an experienced board-certified general surgeon at Southlake General Surgery, Texas, an individual with hyperparathyroidism may encounter:
- stones in the kidney
- exorbitant urination
- bone fractures
In addition to the listed symptoms, an individual may experience more broad or vague symptoms such as:
- nausea and vomiting
- Pain in the abdomen
- Muscle pain
- Change in mental abilities leading to lethargy, confusion, or depression
Causes of Parathyroid Adenoma
It is difficult for doctors to describe the reason for the cause of tumor growth on one of the glands. However, there are a few reasons that can develop tumor:
- Genetic problem.
- Exposure to radiation increase the chances of a parathyroid adenoma.
- Age above 60 years.
- More common in women who are old, and is also found in other age groups as well.
How to diagnose a parathyroid adenoma?
Since these tumors make the body produce an excess of PTH, your primary care physician will test your blood levels for this hormone. If the level of these hormones is high, then your doctor might think about this condition.
An increase in the level of PTH states that you may have a parathyroid tumor. Since PTH helps maintain the level of calcium and phosphorus, an abnormal level of those minerals in the blood may indicate that you have one of these tumors. Your doctor will also examine for kidney stones and bone density test with:
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
- CT scan
How to treat a parathyroid adenoma?
Treatment of a parathyroid adenoma generally includes parathyroid surgery.
If an individual has these tumors, the doctor will examine the condition of all four parathyroid glands during surgery. The advancement of medical technology nowadays helps the doctor to identify the tumor location or how many tumors are there. In a study, it is found that only about 10 percent of people have tumors in more than one gland. About 90 percent of these types of medical conditions get cured by parathyroid surgery.
For mild conditions, your doctor may suggest monitoring the condition for some time instead of surgery. You can contact our healthcare expert for the treatment of mild, severe, and complex symptoms or parathyroid surgery at Southlake General Surgery, Texas and book an appointment with us.
Your doctor may also prescribe medicine to treat your condition and symptoms. For postmenopausal women who have bone density problems, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be beneficial.
Conclusion
A small benign tumor on at least one of the four parathyroid glands refers to a parathyroid adenoma. This medical condition can further lead to hyperparathyroidism. It can make your bones weak or cause kidney stones. For patients with a mild condition, the doctor may just monitor the condition and prescribe medicines or may suggest surgery for a complex medical condition.
Appointment
For more information on Parathyroid adenoma and Parathyroid Surgery. You can contact our healthcare expert today at +1(817) 748-0200. You can also make an online appointment with us.