Parathyroid Surgery NYC

What Are The Parathyroid Glands?

The parathyroids are 4 small glands located in the neck behind the thyroid. Your parathyroid glands are responsible for controlling the levels of calcium and phosphorus found in your blood. The parathyroids do this by producing parathyroid hormones (PTH) which balances calcium and phosphorus levels. Maintaining the correct levels allows your nervous system and muscular system to function efficiently.

If there is a disorder of the parathyroids, then this may interrupt the balance of parathyroid hormones in your body. If your parathyroids produce too many hormones, this can cause an overactive parathyroid (hyperparathyroidism), while too few hormones can lead to an underactive parathyroid (hypoparathyroidism). Parathyroid disorders can cause many different symptoms, including chronic fatigue, depression, dehydration, kidney stones, hypertension, and kidney failure. Many parathyroid disorders can be treated with parathyroid surgery in NYC.

What Are Some Common Parathyroid Disorders?

Hyperparathyroidism is the most common parathyroid disorder. During hyperparathyroidism, the parathyroid glands are overactive and produce an excess of parathyroid hormones. This can be caused by the parathyroid glands themselves (known as primary hyperparathyroidism) or it may be caused by another disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism). Hyperparathyroidism can lead to abnormally high levels of calcium and low levels of phosphorus. Hyperparathyroidism is a serious disease that can worsen over time if left untreated. Parathyroid surgery in NYC is considered the most common treatment for hyperparathyroidism.

Hypoparathyroidism is a parathyroid disorder that occurs when the parathyroid glands are underactive and do not produce enough parathyroid hormones. Hypoparathyroidism leads to abnormally low levels of calcium and high phosphorus levels. Patients with hypoparathyroidism may experience tiredness, muscle spasms, anxiety, depression, cramps, and many other symptoms. Learn more about parathyroid disorders by clicking here.

In rare cases, growths can develop inside the parathyroid glands. These growths may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign) and can affect the amount of parathyroid hormones found in your blood. Non-cancerous parathyroid tumors may lead to hyperparathyroidism, while parathyroid cancer can spread to surrounding lymph nodes and organs if not treated. Learn more about parathyroid cancer by clicking here.

Which Type Of Parathyroid Treatment Is Right For Me?

There are many factors that will determine which type of parathyroid treatment is right for you, including your age, overall health, genetics, a history of parathyroid disorders, and more. While parathyroid surgery is the preferred option for most parathyroid conditions, some patients are not ideal candidates for surgery and may be better suited for medication. Dr. Edward Shin can perform parathyroid surgery for patients suffering from hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer. Patients who are candidates for medication can be referred to an endocrinologist for treatment.

How Is Parathyroid Surgery Performed?

NYC parathyroid surgery is performed using general anesthesia. A small incision is made at the neck to access the parathyroid glands. The overactive glands are then removed, along with any parathyroid growths or tumors. Our parathyroid surgeon may use an endoscope to see inside your parathyroid glands during surgery. The endoscopic probe is inserted into the neck through a tiny incision and transmits digital images of the parathyroids in real time.