Parathyroid Disorders
Prof. Miller is an expert in minimally invasive parathyroid surgery
Patients cured of their hyperparathyroidism are among the happiest patients Prof. Miller sees. With an experienced surgeon, the operation is quick, safe, and has a success rate around 98%.
Located behind the thyroid gland are four tiny parathyroid glands. These glands, each the size of a grain of rice, make parathyroid hormone (PTH), which controls calcium levels in your blood. Calcium is crucial for the health of your bones, heart, nerves, and muscles.
The most common way the parathyroid glands cause trouble is when one or more of them become overactive, making too much PTH. This condition is called HYPERPARATHYROIDISM. This condition is often silent, or causes symptoms so general, a person or his/her doctor may not even notice them. But left untreated, hyperparathyroidism can lead to serious health problems like osteoporosis (weak bones that break easily), kidney disease, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and shortened life span. Fortunately, hyperparathyroidism can usually be cured with a simple operation.
**Many doctors do not understand hyperparathyroidism very well, and do not always refer patients to discuss surgery, assuming the disease is mild and the surgery is risky. Some doctors refer for surgery only if imaging tests are positive. This approach is a mistake. There is strong evidence showing successful surgery for hyperparathyroidism improves bone strength, decreases the risk of fractures, and in many patients, improves quality of life through improved energy, memory and concentration, aches and pains, sleep disturbance, and other vague symptoms caused by high blood calcium. Just like parathyroid surgery, parathyroid imaging is more successful depending on the experience of the provider. For this reason, Prof. Miller prefers to organize the imaging herself with her highly experienced and committed radiologists. Please click on the link to Prof. Miller's Parathyroid Information for more details.
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