Parathyroid cancer

Definition:

Parathyroid cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth in a parathyroid gland.

Alternative Names:

Parathyroid carcinoma

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The parathyroid glands are responsible for controlling the calcium in the body. There are four parathyroid glands, two on each lobe of the thyroid gland. They are located at the base of the neck.

Parathyroid cancer is an extremely rare type of cancer. Men and women are equally affected. It usually occurs in people older than 30.

The cause of parathyroid cancer is unknown. People with multiple endocrine neoplasia type I have an increased risk for this disease. People who had head or neck radiation may also be at increased risk. Such radiation exposure, however, is more often connected with thyroid cancer.

Parathyroid cancer is a slow growing cancer. It is also extremely hard to diagnose.

References:

Phillip K. Pellitteri PK, Sofferman RA, Randolph GW. Surgical Management of Parathyroid Disorders. In: Cummings CW, Flint PW, Haughey BH, et al. (eds). Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, 4th ed . Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby; 2005

Weigel RJ, Macdonald JS, Haller D, McDougall IR. Cancer of the Endocrine System. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, et al. (eds). Clinical Oncology, 3rd ed . Philadelphia, Pa: Chrchill Livingston; 2004.

National Cancer Institute. Parathyroid Cancer: Treatment. In: Physician Data Query. Available online at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/parathyroid. Last accessed on 23 April, 2006.

Review Date: 5/11/2006
Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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