Parathyroid cancer

Alternative Names:

Parathyroid carcinoma

Symptoms:

Symptoms of parathyroid cancer are primarily caused by hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), and may affect various parts of the body. They include:

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

Signs and tests:

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history.

In about half of all cases, palpation (feeling with hands) can reveal a cancerous parathyroid tumor.

Cancerous parathyroid tumors tend to produce very high amounts of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Tests may include:

Serum PTH (levels that are more than twice the normal may indicate cancer)
Serum calcium (levels higher than 14 mg/dL are also suspicious)

Prior to surgery, you will undergo a special radioactive scan of the parathyroid glands. The scan is called the sestamibi scan. You may also have a neck ultrasound .

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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