Dr. Peter Mowschenson
General Surgery
Brookline, MA
50 years experience male
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
General Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
45 Answers
3 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: If vit d is normal then excess PTH will elevate the blood calcium to abnormal which can affect kidney, bones, abdomen, and brain if vit d is low then... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
?: Don't understand this questions. Pth interacts with blood calcium but has effects on the kidney and a host of other organs that are unclear.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
VIT D: Vit d deficiency is the most common cause and it can take months of vit d supplements to restore levels to normal.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: Hyperparathyroidism is 85-90% from one gland but 15-20% of patients have more than one gland. That's why experienced surgeon is important.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Not necessarily: I think you are referring to radiation and the risk of thyroid cancer. You thyroid is gone so no risk to that but radiation in general can be harmful ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 64-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Problem: That can be a problem because after roux surgery your calcium absorption is lower anyway. You may need to take extra vit d. Important to speak to your... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Calcium control: It very precisely controls the blood calcium level at a max of 10.2 mg /100 ml. If calcium rises then PTH drops, if calcium drops then PTH rises to k... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
PTH goes up: When calcium drops the parathyroid glands are stimulated and PTH rises.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Unclear: Sometimes patients experience transient hair loss following surgery but it recovers and isn't related to PTH as far as i know.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Endocrine glands: Two on each side in most people. They secrete PTH and control the blood calcium very accurately.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
No... but: If you had aching legs before the operation improvement can take longer. If you did not have aching legs it isn't usual to have it for this long after... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: Many people have their thyroid gland removed and thyroid hormone is easy to replace. If all your parathyroids are taken out which is generally a compl... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Pretty much: Pth can be elevated in hyperparathyroidism but if the calcium is normal it may be elevated because vit d is low. Vit d and hyperparathyroidism are bot... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Hyperparathyroidism: You have hyperparathyroidism and that is around the range you should consider surgery. You must have an experienced parathyroid surgeon do this.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: Any abdominal surgery requiring anesthesia can cause enough hormone changes to alter the menstrual cycle temporarily.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Not needed: There is no need to use fibrin glue in this operation. I have done thousands of cases with no drains and no fibrin glue. Expense and no benefit.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Yes and No: If part of an adenoma was left behind it can grow back. If you had another gland that was enlarging but not detected then you may have the problem aga... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: This may be from positioning at surgery but should go away.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Exercise is fine: There is no risk to your prior surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
PTH and CA high: Usually parathyroid cancer is seen with large parathyroid gland, very high PTH and very high blood calcium, but even then it may not be cancer. The su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: When u have an ileostomy for uc no small bowel is removed and so foods are absorbed fine. Only water may be a problem. U need to be sure nothing else... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Little and quick: Parathyroid surgery should not be very painful, and whatever pain there is should go away within a few days.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
True: However only if you have elevated PTH and calcium. Sometimes if in doubt needle can be used to sample the cyst for pth. If it is parathyroid level in ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
6 weeks: 6 weeks is the time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Endocrine glands: Normally four glands - two on each side of the neck with secrete parathyroid hormone and control the blood calcium.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Surgery: Most patients undergo surgery. Some have vit d correction first in case the PTH is up just for that reason. Patients who are too sick for surgery of w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
High blood calcium: Too much PTH causes the blood calcium to rise to higher than normal and this can lead to kidney stones, thinning of your bones as well as a number of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Nothing: You only need one parathyroid gland to be fine!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Normal blood calcium: The reason for surgery is to restore blood calcium to normal. It may go down to below normal range for a while resulting in tingling feelings in the a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Other causes: Other conditions such as too much vit d, a condition known as sarcoid, or if you have tumors in your bone from some other tumor for example breast.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: If surgery was a long time ago then unlikely. If just had surgery it might be because calcium is now low. Usually causes tingling and numbness if this... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Hyperparathyroidism: The question is... Is the PTH too high for this level of blood calcium. You may have very mild hpt. Just follow the blood levels for now. Tsh is on th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Various: Kidney stones, bone thinning abdominal complaints, memory loss, fatigue are most common.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Endocrine gland: Usually two glands on each side, upper and lower. Upper may go lower and behind the thyroid gland. Lower may go lower and in front into the thymus. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Yes: There are patients with normal PTH and calcium and parathyroid nodules. Unless the ultrasound shows worrisome features nothing needs to be done except... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Blood calcium: The blood calcium is very precisely controlled by the parathyroid hormone and vice versa.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Possible: Liver or pancreas couple be damaged. You need to get help to stop drinking now.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Not normally: Polycystic kidney is different. Thyroid nodules are very common even if you don't have polycystic disease.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Depends: Bone pain from metastases is generally easy to detect with scans. If bones look normal then hyperparathyroidism can cause bone and joint pain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Normal calcium: Most common reason to remove the gland is to correct elevated blood calcium. Once tumor is out that should happen quickly.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
No: Appendix had nothing to do with pancreas. If the gallbladder had stones you could possible have a stone remaining on the bile duct. See your doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
None: Unclear how this biopsy was done. If it was needle biopsy there should be no side effects. If during surgery unlikely to cause problems.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
You don't need one: Diverticulitis: all that stui about seeds fruits etc has no supportive evidence at all. Eat and enjoy. Gall stones. No evidence that avoiding fatty ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
Needs to see surgeon: The patient needs to alert her surgeon who may decide to measure her over function tests and do an ultrasound of the abdomen to see if she has any flu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Peter Mowschensonanswered
General Surgery 50 years experience
? wrong diagnosis.: You may not have actually hyperparathyroidism or you could have an extra abnormal parathyroid in what we call and ectopic location. Get a second endoc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
2
Recommendations
31
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Mowschenson is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Mowschenson is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! pancreatitiis has now been detected and in the hospital for more tests
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University College London Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
Graduated 1973MD
Residency
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Residency
Guy's Hospital
Awards
numerous awards
Top General Surgeon , Third Place, Massachusetts - Summer
2013
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Association of Endocrine Surgeons
Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
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