UAB Department of Surgery Fay Fletcher Kerner Endowed Chair Dr. Herbert Chen was recently featured on UAB's weekly podcast, MedCast, where he discussed hyperparathyroidism and its impacts.

One of the most common endocrine disorders, hyperparathyroidism is caused by a tumor in one of the four parathyroid glands in the neck. The tumor releases excess parathyroid hormone and causes the body to move calcium from the bones into the bloodstream.

Chen notes that hyperparathyroidism often goes undiagnosed even after patients are charted as having an elevated calcium level. As a result, patients with undetected hyperparathyroidism may feel fatigued; have joint, muscle, or abdominal pain; struggle with concentration; and have frequent urination.

Hyperparathyroidism is cured through a same-day outpatient procedure to remove the tumor, with a short, one-week recovery period.

In his discussion, Chen reiterates that all physicians should be on high alert when they see a patient's lab result come back with an elevated calcium level. In the event of these results, he adds, "Follow up with it, because you may, by diagnosing the disease and sending the patient to us for treatment, have a big impact on that patient's life." 

Listen to the full MedCast episode here.