Head & Neck
Parathyroid Disease & Surgery
Four tiny glands control your calcium. When one overworks, the fix is precise surgery by an experienced neck surgeon.
The parathyroid glands — four rice-sized glands behind the thyroid — regulate blood calcium. In hyperparathyroidism, usually a single benign overactive gland drives calcium too high, causing fatigue, bone thinning, kidney stones, and the classic “moans, groans and stones” symptoms that are often blamed on aging. Dr. Bortniker has extensive experience in the medical and surgical management of parathyroid disease.
Clues to Parathyroid Disease
- High calcium on bloodwork
- Kidney stones
- Bone loss / osteoporosis
- Fatigue & brain fog
Talk to a specialist
Evaluation of high calcium and parathyroid disease — consultation at our Somerville office.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made with blood tests — elevated calcium with an inappropriately high parathyroid hormone level. Imaging (ultrasound and sestamibi or CT scanning) then localizes the overactive gland to plan a focused operation.
Parathyroid Surgery
Removing the single overactive gland cures most patients — a targeted operation through a small neck incision, often outpatient. Calcium normalizes quickly, and symptoms like fatigue, aching and stone formation improve over the following months.
Frequently Asked Questions
My calcium is only slightly high. Does it matter?
Even mild persistent elevation deserves a parathyroid hormone check — untreated hyperparathyroidism quietly damages bone and kidneys over years, and surgery is the only cure when it is confirmed.