Parathyroid cancer develops in one of four parathyroid glands. Your parathyroid glands are usually located behind your thyroid in your neck. This rare cancer can cause your glands to make too much parathyroid hormone (PTH). This can lead to too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). Surgery is the most common treatment.
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Parathyroid cancer is a rare cancer that develops in your parathyroid glands. Your parathyroid glands are four pea-sized glands, usually located behind your thyroid in the front of your neck. These glands release parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH controls how much calcium is in your blood.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
In most cases of parathyroid cancer, one of these glands becomes overactive. It makes too much PTH. This can lead to high levels of calcium in your blood, or hypercalcemia. It’s harmful to your body.
This is why it’s just as important to treat high calcium levels as it is to treat the cancer itself. The most serious issues are often related to the impacts of hypercalcemia.
There are two kinds of parathyroid cancer:
Most symptoms of parathyroid cancer are actually symptoms of hypercalcemia that develop because of it. They include:
Other symptoms include:
There isn’t a single known cause of parathyroid cancer. But most people with this condition have an abnormal CDC73 gene. Normally, this gene prevents tumors from forming.
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With parathyroid carcinoma, it’s likely that the gene changes (mutates) during your lifetime. But some people inherit the abnormal gene from a biological parent.
Parathyroid cancer affects males and females equally. On average, people get diagnosed in their 40s and 50s.
Some rare genetic syndromes are considered risk factors. They include:
Past radiation therapy for your head or neck may also increase your risk. But this is rare, too.
Surgeons diagnose parathyroid cancer by removing your parathyroid gland and testing it for cancer.
But this cancer can be challenging to diagnose. The cancer cells look a lot like cells from noncancerous conditions that can cause high parathyroid hormone levels, like a parathyroid adenoma.
You’ll likely need other tests for your healthcare provider to get a complete picture of your diagnosis, like:
About 3 out of every 10 people have cancer spread at the time of diagnosis. Most often, the cancer spreads to the lungs, bones or liver.
Surgery to remove the cancerous parathyroid gland is the main treatment. Your surgeon may remove tissue around the gland or elsewhere in your body if the cancer has spread.
Your healthcare provider will also work with you to get your calcium levels down to safe levels. You may need to take medicines like:
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy aren’t common treatments for parathyroid cancer. But your healthcare provider will let you know if they recommend them.
Let your provider know if symptoms of hypercalcemia return after treatment. Usually, these symptoms are the first sign that the cancer has come back. Reach out if you notice a new lump in your neck.
Survival rates for people who have parathyroid cancer range from 85% to 91% at five years. At 10 years, the survival rate is 67 to 72%. This means that many people live for several years with this cancer.
About 4 to 6 out of 10 people experience recurrence (the parathyroid cancer comes back). When this happens, the cancer usually returns two to five years after surgery. But it can come back even decades later. You may need another surgery if this happens.
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But your life expectancy and chance of a cure depend on lots of things. For some people, the first surgery cures parathyroid carcinoma. For others, it takes more than one surgery to get rid of it for good. Sometimes, the cancer is aggressive and causes life-threatening hypercalcemia, even with treatment.
There’s still a lot that researchers are learning about this rare cancer. This is why your healthcare provider is your best resource for explaining what to expect.
A parathyroid adenoma is a noncancerous growth in your parathyroid gland. Parathyroid adenomas are much more common than parathyroid cancer. Parathyroid cancer is when malignant (cancer) cells form in your parathyroid tissue.
Cancer typically causes more severe hypercalcemia. But both conditions can cause your parathyroid to release too much parathyroid hormone. Because of this, the most common treatment is surgery to remove the overactive parathyroid gland.
Parathyroid cancer is so rare that there are still a lot of unknowns with this diagnosis. This is why it’s important to lean on your healthcare provider for support. They can recommend treatments to manage hypercalcemia symptoms.
Your provider can also explain your outlook based on how successful your surgery was. They can recommend new cancer therapies as they become available. And your healthcare team will be by your side to direct you on the best path for treatment.
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Cleveland Clinic treats all parathyroid diseases, including cancer, and their side effects. We’ll create a personalized treatment plan that meets your needs.
Last reviewed on 11/14/2025.
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