Parathyroid gland

Parathyroid cancer develops in one of four parathyroid glands, which are part of your endocrine system. Your parathyroid glands are usually located behind your thyroid in your neck. The glands produce parathyroid hormone to control the amount of calcium in your blood. Surgery is the most common form of treatment for parathyroid cancer. Overview What is parathyroid cancer (parathyroid carcinoma)? Parathyroid cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the tissue of your parathyroid glands. Your parathyroid glands are usually located behind your thyroid — a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Healthcare professionals don’t use the four-stage naming system for parathyroid cancer that’s commonly used for other types of cancers. Instead, parathyroid cancer is categorized in one of three ways: • Localized: Localized parathyroid cancer means the cancer is found in your parathyroid gland and may have spread to surrounding tissues. • Metastatic: Metastatic parathyroid cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of your body, such as your lymph nodes, liver, lungs, bone or pancreas. Approximately 10% to 30% of people who are diagnosed with parathyroid cancer will have metastatic cancer at the time of diagnosis. Most commonly, the cancer will have spread to your lung, bone or liver. • Recurrent: Recurrent parathyroid cancer means the cancer comes back after initial treatment — typically, surgical removal of the cancerous gland. More than half of people with parathyro...