Parathyroid glands are commonly too small to visualize on ultrasound, but are often quite large among patients with hyperparathyroidism. In such patients, when the decision has already been made to pursue surgical excision of an abnormal parathyroid gland(s), parathyroid ultrasound enables us in many cases to pinpoint the exact location of the offending gland(s). This means the potential for a less invasive surgery, smaller scar and faster recovery time. For these reasons, many surgeons now request a parathyroid ultrasound be performed preoperatively. As with our thyroid patients, we refer our parathyroid patients to surgeons with a proven track record of successful outcomes.
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