Center for Integrative Endocrine Surgery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Questions for Your Primary Care Doctor

Are you certain that my high calcium is being caused by hyperparathyroidism?

There are many different causes for high blood calcium and parathyroid hormone excess is only one of them.

Are you sure that parathyroid surgery is the right thing for me? Could I be treated with medication?

Many patients with kidney failure and hyperparathyroidism are best treated with a drug called Sensipar.

Have you located my enlarged parathyroid gland with Sestamibi scanning or high resolution ultrasonography?

In order to minimize your time on the operating table under anesthesia, it is best to give your parathyroid surgeon a roadmap to the enlarged parathyroid gland.

How many parathyroid surgeries per month does your preferred surgeon perform?

To maintain competence in the neck, a surgeon should be operating on the thyroid or parathyroids at least twice a week. This translates to at least 100 neck surgeries a year.

Does your preferred parathyroid surgeon use minimally invasive techniques?

Hyperparathyroidism can be cured in 90 percent of patients by removing a single enlarged gland through a 1-inch incision.

Does your surgeon's hospital have Sestamibi probe technology, intra-operative rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) testing, and a same-day discharge program for parathyroid patients?

Use of the intra-operative Sestamibi probe is an excellent way to locate enlarged parathyroid glands, even when outpatient Sestamibi scanning fails. Rapid PTH testing in the operating room confirms that the surgeon has removed all the overactive parathyroid tissue. Same-day discharge is possible when surgeons know that the surgery has been done correctly. Depending on the intra-operative Sestamibi probe without rapid PTH testing can give the surgeon a false sense of security and result in surgical failure 10 percent of the time, when patients have more than one parathyroid tumor causing their hypercalcemia (high calcium blood levels). False security can lead to an inadequate surgery and recurrent hypercalcemia down the road.

If you would like a second opinion and additional options, please consider our patient- and family-centered care and minimally invasive alternative treatments offered at Memorial Center for Integrative Endocrine Surgery.

Is Your Doctor a Memorial Doctor?
To find a physician who is committed to South Florida healthcare services, call Memorial Physician Referral Service toll-free at 800-944-DOCS. We're available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.