Theparathyroid is a lentil-shaped gland adjacent to the thyroid gland in the neck that produces a hormone called parathormone. These glands are responsible for balancing the need for calcium and phosphorus in our blood and bones. The most important task of Parathormone produced bythe parathyroid glandsin the body is to monitor the calcium level in the blood and to ensure that calcium is given to the blood from the bones when necessary. The bones function as a storage area for the minerals in the calcium in the body. When this hormone is secreted, calcium is released from the body. When the parathyroid gland works too much, it is called primary hyperparathyroidism. This is usually due to one gland working too much, but can also be due to four glands working too much. When this hormone is not secreted, calcium formation in the bones continues.
Parathyroid Functions in the Body
- Providing calcium for blood circulation from the bones
- Helping to absorb calcium in the intestines
Parathyroid Treatment
Parathyroid treatment is based on the principle of surgical removal of one or all of the parathyroid glands. Surgery is the first method for parathyroid treatment. Calcium in the body can be lowered with medication, but if the disease is in the parathyroid, the only solution is surgery. This diseased gland or glands are removed with the help of surgery. As a drug treatment, mimpara, sinacalcet, cineset, calciset can be used. Drug treatment is generally recommended for those who cannot tolerate surgery and provides a temporary improvement. These medications should be used under the supervision of a doctor. It has side effects and a doctor should be consulted when side effects are encountered.
Parathyroid Surgery
The most effective way to treat parathyroid is parathyroid surgery. When this surgery is performed by specialists, the recovery rate is 95% and above. Finding the parathyroid glands during surgery is very difficult in terms of their color, size and proximity to the vessels and nerves and is a surgery that requires attention. For this reason, a good surgeon should be preferred. Parathyroid surgery is performed through the neck. Parathyroid surgery can be performed by marking the parathyroid gland with radioactive material by injecting a special substance into the patient before surgery. Preoperatively, the parathyroid gland is found and removed through a small incision in the neck. After the removal of the parathyroid gland, parathormone assays are performed in the blood at 0, 10 and 20 minutes. The operation is terminated after the decrease in parathormone in the blood is detected and the parathyroid gland is pathologically diagnosed. It is removed through a short incision in the neck.
If it is thought that there is more than one parathyroid gland, both sides of the thyroid are checked and all glands are found and evaluated. Four parathyroid glands are found and examined and large ones are removed. Generally, three and a half parathyroid glands are removed and one is left unfinished. After parathyroid surgery, the patient is discharged if there is a decrease in parathormone levels and no increase is detected.
