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- Services and providers for Parathyroid Disorders in the U.S.
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National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Parathyroid Disorders is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Parathyroid Disorders
Most people have four pea-sized glands, called parathyroid glands, on the thyroid gland in the neck. Though their names are similar, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are completely different. The parathyroid glands make parathyroid hormone (PTH), which helps your body keep the right balance of calcium and phosphorous.
If your parathyroid glands make too much or too little hormone, it disrupts this balance. If they secrete extra PTH, you have hyperparathyroidism, and your blood calcium rises. In many cases, a benign tumor on a parathyroid gland makes it overactive. Or, the extra hormones can come from enlarged parathyroid glands. Very rarely, the cause is cancer.
If you do not have enough PTH, you have hypoparathyroidism. Your blood will have too little calcium and too much phosphorous. Causes include injury to the glands, endocrine disorders or genetic conditions. Treatment is aimed at restoring the balance of calcium and phosphorous.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
| Basics | Learn More | Multimedia & Cool Tools |
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Calcium Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- PTH Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Treatment
- Hectorol(Food and Drug Administration)
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Parathyroid Cancer (PDQ): Treatment
(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
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Specific Conditions
- Hypercalcemia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Hyperparathyroidism(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Hyperparathyroidism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Hypoparathyroidism(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Velocardiofacial Syndrome(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)
Also available in Spanish
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Related Issues
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Renal Osteodystrophy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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What Is an Endocrinologist?(Hormone Foundation)
Also available in Spanish
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Renal Osteodystrophy
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Videos
- Minimally Invasive Radioguided Parathyroid (MIRP) Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program
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Anatomy/Physiology
- Atlas of the Body: The Endocrine System(American Medical Association)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperparathyroidism(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypoparathyroidism(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Parathyroid Diseases(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperparathyroidism
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Genetics
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Learning about Velocardiofacial Syndrome(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Learning about Velocardiofacial Syndrome
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Primary hyperparathyroidism: is there an increased prevalence of renal stone...
- Article: Applications of SPECT/CT in nuclear radiology.
- Article: Long-term results of subtotal vs total parathyroidectomy without autotransplantation in...
- Parathyroid Disorders -- see more articles
- Medical Encyclopedia Return to top
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Directories
- AACE Physician Finder(American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists)
- Organizations Return to top
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Date last updated: 14 July 2008 Topic last reviewed: 30 May 2008 |