What are the tests for parathyroid tumor?

Start with blood: A parathyroid tumor will announce itself as a high serum calcium on routine lab work with or without a neck mass that rises on swallowing. Without, the high calcium will prompt imaging studies in search of neck or nearby mass. This will be excised. 1 in 1000 people needs a parathyroid tumor removed but the large majority are benign and many parathyroid cancers are cured by the surgery.

Blood: The diagnosis is made by a combination of elevated calcium and PTH (parathormone). These are blood tests. Sometimes vitamin d levels, phosphate and chloride levels are helpful. A twenty-four hour urine assay may be useful. Once the diagnosis is established you will probably have a sestamibi scan to localize the tumor and maybe an ultrasound or ct scan.