Hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a relatively frequent endocrinopathy, however, the molecular mechanisms of its etiology remain poorly understood. This disorder is mainly associated with benign tumours (adenoma) and hyperplasia of the parathyroid, hence, the focus is directed also to genes that are likely to be involved in carcinogenesis. Among such genes are ErbB/Her family genes already used in ...

The four parathyroid glands, normally located behind the four poles of the thyroid gland, secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), which regulates extracellular calcium levels. Hyperparathyroidism, which can be primary, secondary, tertiary or quaternary, results in excess production of PTH. Excessive PTH secretion may be due to hyper-function in the glands themselves, in which case it is referred to ...

The parathyroid glands hold a special place in human anatomy, since they were the last major organ to be recognized by humans. The glands are recognized in all vertebrate animals higher than fish, and are derived from the pharyngeal pouches. The molecular signaling pathways that are involved in determining the differentiation of the glands are being elucidated. Studies in mice have demonstrated...

Control of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) using active vitamin D analogues becomes difficult in advanced SHPT, because the enlarged parathyroid glands (PTGs) are resistant to medical therapy. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) has been widely used in Japan since the 1990s as a surgical intervention for advanced SHPT, by selectively destroying only the enlarged glands with nodul...