Forsyth Medical Center 
Parathyroid
| The parathyroid glands are two pairs of small, oval-shaped glands located adjacent to the two thyroid gland lobes in the neck. |
Click here to learn more about the anatomy and functions of the parathyroid.
Common disorders of the parathyroid include:
Surgical procedures to treat disorders of the parathyroid include:
Parathyroidectomy
Surgery to remove the parathyroid gland is called parathyroidectomy.
Most parathyroid surgery is done for hyperparathyroidism. This is most commonly done for a single enlarged parathyroid gland that no longer responds to the body's usual feedback control mechanism. The gland becomes enlarged and secretes too much hormone. In this situation, typically that enlarged gland is removed.
If preoperative scans help localize this single enlarged gland, it may be possible to remove it through a very small incision in the neck.
Less commonly, all four parathyroid glands may be enlarged. In this case, usually about 3 1/2 glands are removed. This requires a larger, collar-type incision at the base of the neck. This may also be needed if a single enlarged gland can't be found preoperatively.
