Parathyroid Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Parathyroid Cancer?
Parathyroid cancer is usually treated by a surgeon who operates on glands in the neck. An endocrinologist, a doctor who treats hormone problems, also helps. A medical oncologist, a cancer doctor, may join the team. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is parathyroid cancer?
Parathyroid cancer is a rare cancer that starts in a parathyroid gland. You have four of these glands. They are about the size of a pea and sit in the neck near the thyroid gland.
These glands make parathyroid hormone, also called PTH. PTH helps the body use and store calcium. This keeps the calcium in your blood at a normal level.
Parathyroid cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer. It usually affects people in their forties or fifties. It grows slowly.
The cancer can make a gland overactive, so it makes too much PTH. Too much PTH can lead to hypercalcemia, which means too much calcium in the blood. This is more serious and life-threatening than the cancer itself. Treating it is as important as treating the cancer.
Symptoms
Most symptoms come from hypercalcemia, the high calcium in the blood. They include:
- Weakness or feeling very tired.
- Nausea and vomiting, or loss of appetite.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Feeling much more thirsty than usual, or urinating much more than usual.
- Constipation or trouble thinking clearly.
- Bone pain, a broken bone, or kidney stones.
Other signs include a lump in the neck, a hoarse voice, and trouble swallowing. Pain in the belly, side, or back that does not go away can also happen.
About 10 percent of cases are called hormonally nonfunctional. In these cases, PTH and calcium levels are normal. The symptoms come from the tumor pressing on nearby parts of the neck. They can include trouble swallowing, a hoarse voice, or shortness of breath.
Causes and who gets it
The exact cause of parathyroid cancer is unknown. Most gene changes in these cancers are picked up during a person's life and are not inherited. Most cases do not run in families.
Some rare inherited conditions raise the risk. They include multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome. Radiation to the head or neck may also raise the risk. Men and women are affected equally.
How doctors diagnose it
Parathyroid cancer can be very hard to diagnose. The cells of a harmless adenoma, a tumor that is not cancer, look like cancer cells. Doctors also look at your symptoms, your blood levels, and the tumor itself.
Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your health history. About half of the time, a provider finds parathyroid cancer by feeling the neck with their hands.
Blood tests check your calcium and PTH levels. A cancerous parathyroid tumor tends to make a very high amount of PTH. A sestamibi scan, a special scan of the parathyroid glands that uses radioactive material, and a neck ultrasound help find which gland is abnormal.
Sometimes it is hard to tell if a tumor is cancer. Your provider may recommend surgery even before the diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment
Surgery is the most common treatment for parathyroid cancer. It removes the whole gland and the capsule, the thin covering around it.
Before surgery, treatment is given to control the high calcium. This can include fluids through a vein, calcitonin (a natural hormone that helps control blood calcium), and medicines that stop bones from breaking down.
Radiation therapy may be used after surgery or on its own. Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to stop cancer cells from growing, may be used when the cancer has spread. MedlinePlus says chemotherapy and radiation do not work well to keep the cancer from coming back. Radiation may help reduce the spread of cancer to the bones.
More than half of patients have the cancer come back. Repeat surgery can help improve survival and reduce the severe effects of hypercalcemia. People need regular check-ups for the rest of their lives to find and treat a return early.
When to see a doctor
Contact your provider if you feel a lump in your neck or have symptoms of hypercalcemia. After treatment, high blood calcium may be the first sign that the cancer has returned.
Low calcium after neck surgery can be life-threatening. It can show up as twitching movements or even seizures. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have severe trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting, a sudden change in mental state, or a seizure.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can help you keep up with the regular check-ups that parathyroid cancer needs. They can also help coordinate visits with your surgeon and other specialists.
Common questions
Is parathyroid cancer common?
No, parathyroid cancer is one of the rarest types of cancer.
Can parathyroid cancer come back?
Yes, it often comes back. More than half of patients have a recurrence, which means the cancer returns. It usually returns between 2 and 5 years after the first surgery, but it can return up to 20 years later.
What is the main treatment for parathyroid cancer?
Surgery is the most common treatment. Doctors also treat the high calcium it causes.
Is parathyroid cancer inherited?
Most cases are not inherited. Some rare inherited conditions do raise the risk.
Sources
- MedlinePlus Genetics - Parathyroid cancer
- National Cancer Institute - Parathyroid Cancer Treatment (PDQ) Patient Version
- MedlinePlus - Parathyroid cancer
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
