Parathyroid surgeons specialize in performing procedures on the four glands in the neck surrounding the thyroid glands. They receive specialized training and are recommended for surgery on these glands. Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more common, and patients should interview surgeons before the procedure.
Parathyroid surgeons are surgeons who specialize in performing procedures on the parathyroid glands, four glands in the neck that surround the thyroid glands. Operating on these glands is extremely challenging, as they are located in a tricky location, and parathyroid surgeons receive specialized training, which provides experience in the field. When a patient needs surgery on these glands, the services of a parathyroid surgeon are strongly recommended.
People can approach the parathyroid surgery profession from the specialty of endocrine surgery or the specialty of head and neck surgery, also known as otolaryngology. In both cases, the surgeon completes a residency in general surgery before applying for a fellowship in the surgical specialty of his choice and receiving additional training in parathyroid surgery. Parathyroid surgeons are usually board certified and have performed hundreds of surgical procedures over the course of their careers.
Treatment of conditions involving the parathyroid glands has historically been invasive, requiring special skills by parathyroid surgeons to avoid delicate tissue in the area. Endocrinologists are increasingly recommending minimally invasive parathyroid surgery to their patients, which requires an equal level of skill to competently manage the surgery and to perform the surgery correctly. The advantage of minimally invasive surgery is that it is less difficult for the patient, reducing healing times and providing a better prognosis.
Patients are usually referred to parathyroid surgeons when one or more parathyroid glands need to be removed because they are producing too much hormone. The surgeon must determine which gland or glands to remove and completely remove the overproductive gland. Patients may also need treatment by an endocrinologist to regulate their hormone levels after surgery, especially if multiple glands need to be removed; in this case, the body may not be able to produce enough parathyroid hormones on its own.
When a patient needs the services of a parathyroid surgeon, he or she should interview the surgeon prior to the procedure and obtain information about where the procedure will be performed to confirm that the standard of care will be high. A competent surgeon will be happy to disclose how many procedures he or she has performed and to provide information about surgical outcomes with other patients and possible complications of surgery. The surgeon must also disclose where he trained and provide proof of certification in a surgical specialty, such as head and neck surgery or endocrine surgery.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
