HYPOPARATHYROIDISM

Course overview

PARATHYROID HORMONE DEFICIENCY, ALSO CALLED HYPOPARATHYROIDISM, RESULTS IN HYPOCALCEMIA, HYPERPHOSPHATEMIA, AND INCREASED NEUROMUSCULAR IRRITABILITY. PATIENTS MAY PRESENT WITH MYALGIAS, MUSCLE SPASMS, AND IN EXTREME CASES TETANY. THOUGH THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES OF HYPOPARATHYROIDISM, THE MAJORITY OF CASES OCCUR AS COMPLICATIONS OF THYROIDECTOMY AND OTHER TYPES OF HEAD AND NECK SURGERY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS WHEN THIS CONDITION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ON DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS, HOW TO PROPERLY EVALUATE FOR IT, AND THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN CARING FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.