Author: Dr. Babak Larian

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Dr. Babak Larian

Dr. Babak Larian, the Chairman and Director of the CENTER for Advanced Head & Neck Surgery in Los Angeles, is a highly experienced and reputable board-certified surgeon, specializing in head and neck surgery. He is nationally renowned for his expertise in minimally invasive surgery techniques in the treatment of parathyroid disorders. Today, Dr. Larian holds the prestigious position of Clinical Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

Explore Dr. Larian’s articles on hyperparathyroidism: what the symptoms look like, how it’s diagnosed, how it relates to conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease, and what treatment involves. Each article is meant to help you make sense of your results and decide on your next step.

What Is a Parathyroid Localization Scan?

A parathyroid localization scan can be used to identify a defective parathyroid gland. The scan can play a vital role in the planning and surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism (HPT).   Localization studies are purely used for locating the abnormal gland or glands, and not to diagnose hyperparathyroidism. What Is a Parathyroid Gland Scan? Localization scans can help identify an abnormal parathyroid gland. The scans can be completed as part of an HPT work up.  When a parathyroid gland becomes abnormal it

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August 24, 2021

Can Hyperparathyroidism Cause Skin Problems?

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) can present itself in many ways. Common symptoms of HPT include bone fractures, gastrointestinal issues, and brain fog. HPT patients can experience skin problems, too. Hyperparathyroidism and Itchy Skin: Here’s What You Need to Know HPT has been linked to vitamin D deficiency. The exact correlation between HPT and a vitamin D deficiency remains unclear. But vitamin D deficiencymay be considered a compensatory mechanism that the body uses to reduce the amount of calcium in the bloodstream. Vitamin

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July 16, 2021

Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism

Parathyroid Gland Function Parathyroid glands try to tightly control the level of calcium in the bloodstream.  They do this by looking at the level of calcium (Ca2+) in the blood stream; if the level is too low they produce PTH, and if the level is too high they stop producing PTH. So calcium has a negative effect on the parathyroid glands and causes them to stop producing PTH.  Vitamin D that is activated in the kidney into Calcitriol (or 1,25

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June 3, 2021

What Is the Normal Range for a PTH Blood Test?

The normal range for a parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood test is 14 to 65 pg/mL. To better understand what defines a normal range for a PTH blood test, let’s examine PTH testing in detail. Why Is a PTH Test Performed? A PTH test is used to measure the PTH level in the blood. It is performed on both children and adults to identify causes of abnormal calcium or phosphorus levels. A doctor sometimes requests a PTH test for a patient

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May 13, 2021

Bones, Moans, Groans, and Stones: Why Hyperparathyroidism Is Often Misdiagnosed

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) can cause physical and emotional symptoms that can look virtually identical to those associated with many other medical conditions. Thanks to advanced testing, HPT symptoms can be diagnosed and treated faster and more effectively than ever before. How Is HPT Diagnosed? Initially, doctors would look for four symptoms to diagnose HPT: Bone fractures (bones) Change in mental status (moans) High stomach acidity (groans) Kidney stones These symptoms would appear in the late stages of HPT. They represent only

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March 30, 2021

I Need Parathyroid Surgery—What’s Next?

Parathyroid gland surgery can seem scary and feel intimidating, but help is available. At the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles, Babak Larian, MD, FACS, provides patients with the best parathyroid treatments. To determine which treatment is appropriate for a patient, Dr. Larian evaluates his patient and their symptoms. If Dr. Larian views parathyroid surgery as the best option, he creates a custom treatment plan for his patient. Dr. Larian also helps his patient prepare for surgery; that

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February 17, 2021

Can Hyperparathyroidism Be Cured Naturally?

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) cannot be cured naturally. This is because HPT can be attributed to a set of genetic mutations that results in the abnormal parathyroid gland thinking that a higher calcium level is appropriate for the body (almost like changing the thermostat on your air conditioning). There are multiple genetic changes that have to happen in the same cell in order for it to make this mistake. Once these multiple changes (mutations) occur, not only the cell mistakenly aims for

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December 10, 2020

Dr. Larian Installs Intraoperative Parathyroid Ultrasound Probe in Operating Room

Dr. Babak Larian of the CENTER for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery in Los Angeles is committed to providing his patients with the best care possible. As part of this commitment, Dr. Larian is proud to announce that he has installed the Hockey Stick 8809 intraoperative parathyroid ultrasound probe in his operating room, so he can further assist hyperparathyroidism (HPT) patients. What Is the Hockey Stick 8809? The Hockey Stick is an intraoperative parathyroid ultrasound probe that helps Dr. Larian access difficult-to-reach

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December 10, 2020

Is Your Parathyroid Causing Kidney Stones?

A faulty parathyroid gland can inadvertently contribute to development of calcium nephrolithiasis, aka kidney stones. This issue has both very simple and very complicated reasons. Let’s start with the simple reason first: Can the Parathyroid Cause Kidney Stones? On their own, the parathyroid glands won’t cause kidney stones. But, if one or more of the parathyroid glands malfunction, it can result in excess production of PTH. When this occurs, calcium in the blood goes unregulated, and it can surpass a

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November 5, 2020

Does Hyperparathyroidism Cause Hair Loss?

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) can cause hair loss, among other symptoms. To understand why hair loss can occur in combination with HPT, let’s examine the topic in detail. What Is the Link Between Parathyroid Disease and Hair Loss? Studies show hair loss in HPT patients is rare; but, there is a “significant prevalence” of hair loss in patients dealing with hypothyroidism. In one study of 25 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism, researchers found hair symptoms were present in 68% of patients. Researchers also

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October 23, 2020

Think You May Have Hyperparathyroidism?

Dr. Babak Larian is a board-certified head and neck surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. Schedule an in-office or virtual consultation to find out what your results mean and what your options are.

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