D35.1: Benign neoplasm: Parathyroid gland

When there is abnormal growth of tissue in an organ, then this is also referred to as a tumor. The tissue in the body is made up of cells. A tumor disorder involves the cells multiplying more than normal. This results in abnormal or excess tissue forming. A tumor can be benign or malignant. The tumor you have is benign. Benign tumors do not destroy the healthy tissue and do not spread throughout the body.

The parathyroid glands are 4 small glands at the edge of the thyroid gland. A messenger substance (hormone) is formed in the parathyroid glands. This messenger substance affects the calcium and phosphate content in the body. Calcium from the bone is dissolved by the messenger substance and released into the blood. It thus also affects bone firmness.

When a tumor grows in the parathyroid glands, then the parathyroid glands may produce too many messenger substances. This means that the calcium level in your blood is too high. Too much calcium can also be eliminated with the urine. But the phosphate in your blood may be too low. When calcium and phosphate in the blood are changed, then the bones may be less stable. The bones can then get deformed or more easily break. You can then also have pain in your bones. A change in the levels of these minerals in the blood can also cause kidney stones.

However, it is also possible that you will have no symptoms at all.