In many cases of hyperparathyroidism, if you are not experiencing symptoms and your calcium levels are not very high, we may suggest watchful waiting. This means doing regular tests to monitor whether hyperparathyroidism is getting worse or causing other health problems. If this happens, we will recommend treatment options.

Surgery to remove the affected gland is the main treatment for any type of parathyroid tumor. Stanford Health Care is one of the few centers in the nation that offers minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy (MIRP). This technique lets your surgeon quickly remove one or more tumor-containing glands while greatly reducing the incidence of scarring and nerve damage that can accompany more traditional parathyroid surgeries.

Our surgeons use high-resolution ultrasound imaging techniques for greater accuracy in targeting tumors. They also contribute to best practices for monitoring parathyroid hormone levels during surgery.

In most cases, medications are not needed to treat hyperparathyroidism. However, if you are postmenopausal or have low bone density, your doctor may recommend medications to protect your bones, called bisphosphonates or zoledronic acid. This can help prevent or slow further loss in bone density.

Rarely, your doctor may suggest taking medications called calcimimetics to reduce levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH).