Parathyroid cancer (patient information)

Parathyroid cancer
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for parathyroid cancer?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Parathyroid cancer On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2
Videos on Parathyroid cancer
FDA on parathyroid cancer
CDC on parathyroid cancer
parathyroid cancer in the news
Blogs on parathyroid cancer
Directions to Hospitals Treating Parathyroid cancer
Risk calculators and risk factors for Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]

Overview

• Parathyroid cancer is a rare disorder and the cause of parathyroid cancer has not been identified. The most common symptoms of parathyroid cancer include weightloss, muscle weakness, fractures, constipation, fatigue and bone pain.

What are the symptoms of parathyroid cancer?

Symptoms of parathyroid cancer are mainly caused by a high level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), and may affect different parts of the body. They include:

Bone pain Constipation Fatigue Fractures Frequent thirst Frequent urination Kidney stones Muscle weakness Nausea Poor appetite Vomiting

What causes parathyroid cancer?

• The cause of parathyroid cancer has not been identified.

Who is at highest risk?

• Positive family history of the following:

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
• Hyperparathyroidism–jaw tumour syndrome
• Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism

Diagnosis

• The following tests may be used to diagnose parathyroid cancer

• Blood calcium
• Blood PTH

When to seek urgent medical care?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Thyroid adenoma

Treatment options

• Treatment of parathyroid cancer includes:

• Intravenous (IV) fluids
• Diuretics
• Antiresorptive agents such as biphosphonates, gallium, or mithramycin

• Calcimimetic agents that directly block secretion of the parathyroid hormone from the glands

• Gallium nitrate is used to reduce the calcium levels.
• Calcitonin is used to control the calcium levels.

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy

Where to find medical care for parathyroid cancer?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

• Prognosis of the parathyroid cancer depends on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early diagnosis and treatment is associated with better prognosis.

Possible complications

• Metastasis
• Osteoporosis
• Kidney stones
• Fractures
• Hypoparathyroidism from parathyroidectomy

Sources

• https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000399.htm