Parathyroidectomy is the surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands.

The parathyroid glands are four rice-sized glands located on back of the thyroid gland in the neck. The parathyroid glands make parathyroid hormone (PTH), which controls the levels of calcium in the body.

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a condition of abnormal excessive parathyroid hormone (PTH) production and a resultant calcium and phosphate disturbance.  It is broadly categorized into  primary, secondary (e.g. chronic kidney disease), and tertiary.  Primary HPT is the commonest metabolic condition requiring surgical intervention.  Commonly, it is a result of a single hyperfunctioning adenoma (80%) and less frequently due to multiple gland hyperplasia (~15%).   Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause (<1%).