hyperparathyroid and how it's detected. - Osteoporosis Message Board

NY 1009 · 09-02-2006, 08:38 AM

I see quite a few people here diagnosed with this condition and am finding out that it can be the culprit to osteoporosis.
I never knew of this till I came here and read the posts.
for all of you who were diagnosed with this hyper pt did your drs first do a blood test and is this test performed on cbc? or do you have to do a specific hormone test?
another question. were your conditions discovered thru an MRI? or only the blood work?
can an MRI detect hyperparathyroid disease?
I have a lymphnode on neck under jaw that's been there for quite some time and most general surgeons won't touch it because it's on the carotid artery,
I was referred to an ent the other day and she is requesting an MRI.
I had an excisional biopsy performed back in 1997 which turned out to be a huge node but was just atypical hyperplasia.
I was just diagnosed with osteoporosis last week and am wondering if i should ask my dr to perfom the special blood test or will the mri be able to detect if I have hyper pt.
I have all the same symtoms as the people who've been diagnosed with it.

so many questions and all I can do is wait. meanwhile I'm asking around so I have a better stance to take when I see my dr.

Linda

mo2willow · 09-02-2006, 10:59 AM

Mine was discovered from bloodwork performed during my annual exam, basically showing that the calcium levels in my blood were too high, so it wasn't a special blood test. At that time, I wasn't feeling any symptoms. I am not sure about seeing it on an MRI, for me, they injected something into my bloodstream that automatically went to the tumor, so they could see it on an x-ray.

DesertBloom · 09-02-2006, 04:25 PM

Linktek: I just wanted to add to the previous post about your question. To clarify, I haven't been diagnosed with Hyperparathyroidism, but when I had my regular blood panel done my calcium level was normal, and this was done per Forteo treatment initiation. After that I saw an Endo, and he did a Serum Ionized Calcium test (different test) which came back slightly elevated. My point here is sometimes that happens, so ask your Dr. to do both tests, or at least make sure that if one test comes back normal have the second one to be sure. My PTH and Thyroid is normal so my elevated calcium doesn't directly point to hyperpara... Because of all this, I am now seeing a specialist to figure it out. Just make sure all bases are covered if need be. If I hadn't had the second test I wouldn't have known about the elevated calcium, and wouldn't be in the midst of the tests I am now to find out why it is slightly high. Because of this I had to stop the Forteo temporarily, and am not that happy that the first Dr. didn't do the Serum Ion. Calcium test to begin with. I'm sure there are other test to diagnose hyperpara... but I don't know exactly what they are, but I'm sure you could find out from others or Google it.

Good Luck...

taape · 09-02-2006, 11:26 PM

Pam 1,
If I remember this right the endocrinologist I have been seeing since starting the Forteo said that blood calcium could be a little elevated because the Forteo keeps the calcium regulated and a little higher depending on when the tests are run. I wasn't taken off Forteo as she wasn't concerned about this at the time. If your calcium level was seriously outside of the guidelines for normal it's good to get it checked further.

CrohnieToo · 09-03-2006, 06:40 AM

Prior to my starting Forteo my Endo scripted the parathyroid hormone intact w/ionized calcium, vitamin D 25 hydroxy, vitamin D1 25 hydroxy and serum calcium blood draws to be done. Also the Endo preferred my PTH be below 30 prior to my starting Forteo. He only ordered the vitamin D1 25 hydroxy the first blood draw and then a year later he ordered it a second time plus the 3 part thyroid test: T3, T4 and ?? (I've forgotten).

He also keeps an eye on my ALT?, AST?, ALP?, I'm not sure which w/o going back and looking. Its scripted by my gastro as part of my regular 3 month blood draws for a medication I am on for another disease so my Endo just gets a copy of the entire blood draw and doesn't need to also script that test whichever one it is.