About the parathyroid glands

There are four parathyroid glands in front of your throat, behind the thyroid gland. They produce the parathyroid hormone. This helps balance the amount of calcium in the blood.

Surgery is usually recommended because one or more parathyroid glands are producing too much hormone. This is called 'primary hyperparathyroidism'. It is usually caused by a non-cancer growth of the parathyroid gland.

More information on parathyroid surgery

Types of surgery

To remove the parathryoid glands, there are two types of operation that you can choose from:

  • open surgery - done through a cut at the front of the throat
  • 'scarless' keyhole surgery - done through the mouth, via a cut behind the lower lip. This is a new way of removing the parathyroid glands. At Kingston, this is done with the assistance of a robot.

Your surgeon thinks you are suitable for the keyhole or open surgery. Here is a comparison of the options to help you choose what is best for you.

  'Scarless' keyhole surgery Open surgery
Anaesthetic General anaesthetic. You will be completely asleep during surgery. General anaesthetic. You will be completely asleep during surgery.
Scar

No visible scar.

Three small cuts behind the lower lip.

3 to 5 cm cut at the front of the neck. If possible, this will be along a natural skin crease to make the scar less obvious.

After 6 to 12 months, the scar should be hardly noticeable. In some people, the scar can become tender, red or thickened.
Stitches Absorbable stitches. A pressure dressing stays on the chin and neck for 48 to 72 hours to reduce swelling. Usually absorbable stitches under the skin. Sometimes a non-absorbable stitch is used which is removed 7 days later.
Going home If there are no problems, you would usually go home the next day. If there are no problems, you would usually go home the same day or the next day.
Possible complications
  • Small risk of skin damage - this can affect up to 2 in 100 people.
  • Mild numbness over the chin or lip - this usually gets better within 2 to 3 months. Permanent numbness in the lip affects fewer than 1 in 100 people.
  • Most patients have some numbness around the neck scar.
  • Abnormal scarring.
 

Both options also have the same risk of:

  • low calcium - usually resolves after a few weeks or months, you may need calcium tablets until then
  • neck stiffness
  • bleeding - if necessary, this may need another operation via the front of the neck to stop the bleeding
  • infection - fewer than 1 in 100 people are affected
  • voice changes - due to temporary or permanent nerve damage. Most people recover within a few days or weeks but up to 1 in 200 people have permanent damage
  • swallowing difficulties - this is usually only mild and resolves over a few weeks
  • pain - simple pain killers will help
  • continued symptoms of hyperparathyroidism
  • hyperparathyroidism comes back.
Follow-up Appointment about 4 weeks later to discuss the results of tests on the parathyroid glands, and to check your wounds and vocal cords.

More information

If you have any questions about your surgery, contact Tracy Lewin, our Patient Pathway Navigator, on the number below.

Contact information

ENT department

Telephone:

020 8934 6406 (9am to 4pm)