Dr. Bredenkamp recieved his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He then went on to serve a six year residency at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine in the department of Surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
The parathyroid glands are four,
small, pea-shaped glands that are located in the neck on either side of the trachea (the main
airway) and next to the thyroid gland. In most
cases there are two glands
on each side of the trachea, an inferior and a superior
gland. Fewer than four
or more than four glands may be present, and sometimes a gland(s) may be in an unusual location. The function of the parathyroid glands
is to produce parathyroid hormone
(PTH), a hormone that helps regulate calcium within
the body.
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands produce
too much PTH. If there is too much PTH, calcium is removed from the
bones and goes into the blood, and there is increased absorption of calcium from the
intestine into the blood. This results in increased levels of calcium
in the blood and an excess of calcium in the urine. (If there is too little PTH,
the blood calcium level can fall to dangerously low levels.) In more serious
cases, the bone density will diminish and kidney stones can form. Other non-specific symptoms of hyperparathyroidism include depression, muscle weakness, and
fatigue. Every effort
is made to medically treat
or control these conditions prior to surgery. These efforts include avoiding calcium
rich foods, proper hydration (intake of fluids), and medications to avoid
osteoporosis.
Hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid glands. There are two types of hyperparathyroidism, primary and secondary. When the parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, hyperparathyroidism is the resulting condition. Most cases of hyperparathyroidism have no evident cause. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or confusion. Increased calcium and phosphorous excretion may cause kidney stones. The main treatment of hyperparathyroidism is parathyroidectomy.
In hypoparathyroidism, the parathyroid gland does not produce enough parathyroid hormone. Causes of hypoparathyroidism include injury to the parathyroid glands, autoimmune disorder association, or may be present ab birth. Symptoms of hypoparathyroidism include: tingling fingers, toes, and lips, brittle nails, dry, coarse skin, dry hair; memory loss, headaches, severe muscle cramps, cataracts, malformed teeth, and convulsions. Treatment of hypoparathyroidism is to restore the calcium and phosphorus to normal levels in the body.
While the patient's history and physical examination are the building blocks
of making a medical diagnosis, the ability to peer inside the body can be a
powerful tool. Ultrasound is an imaging technique that provides that
ability to medical practitioners.
What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound produces sound waves that are beamed into the body causing return
echoes that are recorded to "visualize" structures beneath the skin. The ability
to measure different echoes reflected from a variety of tissues allows a shadow
picture to be constructed. The technology is especially accurate at seeing the
interface between solid and fluid filled spaces. These are actually the same
principles that allow SONAR on boats to see the bottom of the ocean.
What is ultrasonography?
Ultrasonography is body imaging using ultrasound in medical diagnosis. A
skilled ultrasound technician is able to...
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