Parathyroid Gland

Personally performed operations (as of 2018): 284
Total of performed visceral operations: over 14.000

The parathyroid glands (usually there are 4) are located on either side of the thyroid gland and manage the balance of calcium in the blood by producing a so-called parathormone (PHT). In the case of parathyroid hyperfunction, which is often due to kidney failure, the glands enlarge and start to dissolve calcium from the bones, leading to painful bone softening and fractures.

Surgery of the parathyroid glands

Primary hyperparathyroidism

In the case of “primary hyperparathyroidism”, only one of the 4 so-called epitheliums is enlarged. It can be removed separately.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism

In the case of “secondary hyperparathyroidism”, a deficit of resorption (commonly caused by kidney malfunction) causes a low calcium level in the blood. The epitheliums (mostly all 4 of them) adapt and enlarge.
However, the parathormone causes the body to use the calcium of the bones, leading to the symptoms mentioned above. For this reason, all 4 of the epitheliums have to be removed (in some cases only 3 and a half). At the same time, it is imperative that the body receives enough calcium.
The operation can thus heal the symptoms of the hyperfunction, most importantly the softening of the bones, but also gastric ulcers or kidney stones.