Thyroid/ Parathyroid Specialist

What is the difference between the thyroid and the parathyroid glands?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that's located at the bottom of your neck, and which produces hormones that help regulate your metabolism – the process of converting food to usable energy. The four parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid, and each is about the size of a pea. They regulate the amount of calcium in your blood and bones.

What conditions affect the thyroid and parathyroid?

Both the thyroid and parathyroid glands can develop conditions that cause them to produce too much or too little of the important hormones they provide. Sometimes, these conditions occur as a result of underlying diseases or conditions that may be able to be controlled with medication. Other times, the glands' functions may be impaired by the presence of a tumor, which may be either benign or cancerous. In those cases, surgery is often required.

What is a thyroidectomy?

Thyroidectomy is surgery to remove all or a portion of the thyroid gland. The procedure is usually performed when a tumor – either benign or cancerous – is present, when the thyroid gland itself becomes enlarged (a condition commonly referred to as goiter) or in some cases of hyperthyroidism, where the gland becomes overactive and more conservative approaches aren't effective or aren't an option.

What is a parathyroidectomy?

A parathyroidectomy is a procedure to remove the parathyroid glands using a small incision in your neck. Only rarely do all four glands need to be removed. When that occurs, a small portion of one gland may be implanted in your arm to enable the gland to continue to function. There are several different approaches to parathyroidectomy, and the approach that's used for your surgery will depend on the number of glands to be removed as well as other factors.