Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 1996 Aug;29(4):663-79.

Hyperparathyroidism

Affiliations
  • PMID: 8844736
Review

Hyperparathyroidism

R K Rude. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1996 Aug.

Abstract

Primary hyperparathyroidism is the most prevalent cause of hypercalcemia. Although renal stone disease and osteitis fibrosis were prominent complications of this disorder in the past, the advent of biochemical screening has resulted in earlier detection. This has changed the clinical presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism, so that as many as 80% of patients do not have any sign or symptom that can be attributed solely to the disease. Improvement in assays for PTH has allowed for accurate bio-chemical diagnosis in over 90% of cases. Neck exploration is the treatment of choice for any patient who presents with signs, symptoms, or complications of hypercalcemia or hyperparathyroidism. Medical therapy is indicated in patients who either cannot undergo surgery because of medical contraindication, failed prior neck surgery, unresectable parathyroid carcinoma or simply refuse surgery. Medical therapy is not optimal, although sex steroid replacement therapy in the postmenopausal woman has met with some success. Calcitonin, phosphate, and bisphosphonates may be used, but their long-term efficacy is not clear. Recent studies have suggested that a large proportion of patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism do not demonstrate progression of disease in terms of renal dysfunction, bone disease, or biochemical changes in calcium or PTH. Guidelines have been established for medical follow-up of such patients. If any such patient develops signs or symptoms during medical follow-up, surgery is then indicated.

PubMed Disclaimer

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources