Parathyroid Cancer Surgery in Boulder, CO

Parathyroid cancer is a rare disease wherein cancer cells form in one or more of the parathyroid glands. Surgery is the most commonly used treatment for parathyroid cancer. Alpine Surgical offers parathyroid cancer surgery in Boulder, CO. Read on to learn more about this effective surgical service.

What Is Parathyroid Cancer?

Parathyroid cancer is a disease that develops in the tissue surrounding your parathyroid glands. Usually found behind your thyroid, the parathyroid glands are a butterfly-shaped organ at the front of your neck and behind the thyroid. To regulate the quantity of calcium in your blood, the glands create parathyroid hormone.

Parathyroid cancers are classified into three categories: localized, metastatic, and recurrent.

• Localized – Your parathyroid gland is the site of localized parathyroid cancer, which may have spread to nearby tissues.

• Metastatic – When parathyroid cancer spreads to other areas of the body, including the liver, lungs, bone, pancreas, or lymph nodes, it is referred to as metastatic.

• Recurrent – Recurrent parathyroid cancer occurs when the disease returns following the surgery to remove the affected gland. Recurrence is more likely to occur in over half of the patients with parathyroid cancer. The cancer typically returns 2-5 years following the initial surgery.

Parathyroid cancers are further classified into two types. The difference between the two is how the cancer cells affect the function of the parathyroid glands. The first type causes the gland to overproduce parathyroid hormone (PTH), which increases the calcium level in your blood. The second type is called non-functioning and does not affect your parathyroid activities.

Surgical Treatment for Rare Parathyroid Malignancies

Parathyroid cancer is most commonly detected after an abnormal, overactive parathyroid gland was surgically removed (parathyroidectomy) due to primary hyperparathyroidism. The surgeon may be able to diagnose parathyroid carcinoma during surgery. Imaging tests like MRI and CT-scan are used to check if the cancer cells have spread (metastasized) to other organs in your body.

When the cancer is diagnosed, Alpine Surgical can provide parathyroid cancer surgery in Boulder, CO. It is the best option for treatment of this cancer. The type of surgery our surgeon will provide will depend on if the cancer cells have spread or not. Below are the three types of parathyroid cancer surgery:

• En Bloc Surgery – Your entire parathyroid gland and the capsule that surrounds it are removed. Half of your thyroid gland on the same side as the affected parathyroid gland, as well as any surrounding tissues, muscles, or nerves are also removed.

• Tumor Removal – Only the tumor will be removed. Our surgeon will remove as much of the tumor as possible.

• Metastasectomy – All the cancer cells that have spread to other parts of your body will be removed.

Parathyroid Cancer Surgery at Alpine Surgical

Whether or not the cancer cells have spread from your parathyroid to other organs, you will need surgery to treat the disease. Contact Alpine Surgical for parathyroid cancer surgery in Boulder, CO.