If parathyroid cancer spreads

Last medical review:

Cancer cells can spread from the parathyroid glands to other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

Understanding how a type of cancer usually grows and spreads helps your healthcare team plan your treatment and future care. If parathyroid cancer spreads, it can spread to the following:

  • thyroid
  • soft tissues in the neck
  • windpipe (trachea)
  • esophagus
  • the nerve that goes to the larynx (recurrent laryngeal nerve)
  • lymph nodes in the neck
  • thymus
  • middle of the chest (mediastinum)
  • lungs
  • liver
  • bone
  • the sac that surrounds the heart (pericardium)
  • pleura
  • pancreas

Expert review and references

  • Jesse Pasternak, MD, MPH, FRCSC
  • Hadoux J, Lamarca A, Grande E, Baudin E and Berruti A. Neuroendocrine neoplasms of head and neck, genitourinary and gynaecological systems, unknown primaries, parathyroid carcinomas and intrathyroid thymic neoplasms: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. ESMO Open. 2024: 6(10):103664.
  • Landry CS, Wang TS, Asare EA, et al.. Parathyroid. Amin, MB (ed.). AJCC Cancer Staging Manual [use individual chapters use citation title and author]. 8th ed. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 2017: 75:911—918.
  • Fingeret AL. Contemporary Evaluation and Management of Parathyroid Carcinoma. An American Society of Clinical Oncology Journal. 17(1):17—21.
  • PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board. Parathyroid Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/.

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