The parathyroid gland consists of four tiny glands, each about the size of a grain of rice, located in the neck, behind the thyroid gland.

The parathyroid gland plays an important role in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood. It controls the production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to the amount of calcium in the bloodstream.

Sometimes the parathyroid can become overactive. When that happens, the gland makes too much PTH. The excess parathyroid hormone causes the bones to release excess calcium into the blood. It also reduces the amount of calcium released by the kidneys into the urine. As a result, parathyroid disease has a tendency to cause symptoms related to weakened bones and kidney disease.

Types of Parathyroid Tumors

Most parathyroid tumors are not cancerous. They do not spread to other parts of the body.

Parathyroid Adenoma

Parathyroid adenoma is another name for a benign (not cancerous) parathyroid tumor. Adenoma refers to a benign tumor that does not have a tendancy to spread to the other parts of the body.

Parathyroid Hyperplasia

This is a Non-cancerous condition where all the four parathyroid glands functio abnoramlly.

Parathyroid Cancer

Parathyroid cancer is a rare condition. It occurs in only about 1 percent of people with primary hyperparathyroidism. If doctors believe a tumor is cancerous, the tumor is removed, often with part of the thyroid gland and surrounding lymph nodes.