What is the Difference Between Parathyroid Adenoma and Hyperplasia

The key difference parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia is that parathyroid adenoma is due to benign growth that appears on one or more of the parathyroid glands, while parathyroid hyperplasia is due to enlargement of all four parathyroid glands.

Parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid glands at the bottom of the neck. They are about the size of a grain of rice. The parathyroid hormone produced by the parathyroid glands normally helps in maintaining the right balance of calcium in the bloodstream and tissues. Body organs are dependent on calcium for proper functioning. Parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia are two medical conditions affecting parathyroid glands.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Parathyroid Adenoma
3. What is Parathyroid Hyperplasia
4. Similarities – Parathyroid Adenoma and Hyperplasia
5. Parathyroid Adenoma vs Hyperplasia in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Parathyroid Adenoma vs Hyperplasia

What is Parathyroid Adenoma?

Parathyroid adenoma is a benign growth that appears on one or more of the parathyroid glands. It is a noncancerous growth. It causes the parathyroid gland to make a higher amount of parathyroid hormones than the body needs. This condition is known as primary hyperparathyroidism. An excessive amount of parathyroid hormone upsets the body’s normal calcium balance. It also increases the amount of calcium in the bloodstream. Therefore, too much calcium in the bloodstream can cause symptoms such as feeling tired, confusion, memory loss, depression, kidney stones, bone and joint pain, osteoporosis, bone breaks, abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, constipation, general aches, pains from no obvious cause, high blood pressure, and increased urination. About 10 % of parathyroid adenomas are caused by hereditary conditions. Radiation exposure to the head and neck area as a child or young adult may also increase the risk of parathyroid adenomas. Moreover, a long-term lack of calcium in the diet is also thought to raise the risk of parathyroid adenomas.

Parathyroid Adenoma vs Hyperplasia in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Parathyroid Adenoma

Parathyroid adenoma can be diagnosed through blood tests, urine tests, CT scans to look up calcium deposits, and bone densitometry. Furthermore, the treatments for parathyroid adenomas include surgery to remove glands, hormone replacement therapy, and medications that reduce both calcium and parathyroid hormone levels.

What is Parathyroid Hyperplasia?

Parathyroid hyperplasia is due to the enlargement of all four parathyroid glands. It can occur in people without a family history of the disease or as part of 3 inherited syndromes: multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1), multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN2), or isolated familial hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid hyperplasia is commonly non-inherited and caused by other diseases such as chronic kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency. The symptoms of parathyroid hyperplasia are bone fractures, constipation, lack of energy, muscle pain, and nausea.

Parathyroid Adenoma and Hyperplasia - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 02: Parathyroid Hyperplasia

Parathyroid hyperplasia can be diagnosed through blood tests for calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, PTH, vitamin D, kidney function (creatinine, BUN), urine test, X-ray, bone density test (DXA), CT scan, and ultrasound. Furthermore, treatments for parathyroid hyperplasia may include providing vitamin D, vitamin D-like drugs, and other medicines, surgery to remove parathyroid glands, and implanting remaining tissue in the forearm or neck muscle to prevent the body from having too little PTH.

What are the Similarities Between Parathyroid Adenoma and Hyperplasia?

Parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia are two medical conditions affecting parathyroid glands.
Both diseases can increase parathyroid hormone excessively.
They can be inherited generation-wise.
Both diseases can be diagnosed through blood tests and imaging tests.
They are treated through surgeries by removing parathyroid glands.

What is the Difference Between Parathyroid Adenoma and Hyperplasia?

Parathyroid adenoma is due to benign growth that appears on one or more of the parathyroid glands, while parathyroid hyperplasia is due to enlargement of all four parathyroid glands. Thus, this is the key difference between parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia. Parathyroid adenoma affects one or more parathyroid glands, while parathyroid hyperplasia affects all four parathyroid glands.

The below infographic presents the differences between parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Parathyroid Adenoma vs Hyperplasia

The parathyroid hormone produced by the parathyroid glands normally helps to maintain the right balance of calcium in the bloodstream and tissues. Calcium is needed for the proper functioning of body organs. Parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia are two medical conditions in parathyroid glands. Parathyroid adenoma occurs due to benign growth that appears on one or more of the parathyroid glands, while parathyroid hyperplasia occurs due to enlargement of all four parathyroid glands. So, this summarizes the difference between parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia.