Changes

*'''Weight''' of the parathyroid gland or fragment thereof. For reference, <ref group=notes name=weight>The average weight of each parathyroid gland is about 30&nbsp;mg in men and 35&nbsp;mg in women.^A 90% of normal parathyroid glands weight less than 100g, and 96% less than 160g.<ref namesup>B</sup><br>A. {{cite journal|last=Johnson|first=S J|title=Best Practice No 183: Examination of parathyroid gland specimens|journal=Journal of Clinical Pathology|date=1 April 2005|volume=58|issue=4|pages=338–342|doi=10.1136/jcp.2002.002550|pmid=15790694|pmc="YaoSinger2004"1770637}}<br>B. {{cite journal|last1=Yao|first1=Kathy|last2=Singer|first2=Frederick R.|last3=Roth|first3=Sanford I.|last4=Sassoon|first4=Aaron|last5=Ye|first5=Cynthia|last6=Giuliano|first6=Armando E.|title=Weight of Normal Parathyroid Glands in Patients with Parathyroid Adenomas|journal=The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism|volume=89|issue=7|year=2004|pages=3208–3213|issn=0021-972X|doi=10.1210/jc.2003-031184}}</ref>

Look The main conditions to look for the most common significant findings, which and distinguish are:*'''Hyperplastic glandsParathyroid hyperplasia''', often nodular and asymmetric on inspection, and microscopy frequently show increased number of oxyphil cells: Typically involves all 4 glands with diffuse enlargement.<ref name="ÅkerströmRudberg1986"MurroLin2020>{{cite journalweb|last1url=Åkerström|first1=Ghttps://www.|last2=Rudberg|first2=Cpathologyoutlines.|last3=Grimelius|first3=L.|last4=Bergström|first4=R.|last5=Johansson|first5=H.|last6=Ljunghall|first6=S.|last7=Rastad|first7=Jcom/topic/parathyroidpthadenoma.html|title=Histologic Thyroid & parathyroid abnormalities in an autopsy series- Parathyroid nonmalignant - Parathyroid adenoma|journalauthor=Human PathologyDiana Murro Lin|volumewebsite=17|issue=5|year=1986|pages=520–527|issn=00468177|doi=10.1016/S0046-8177(86)80043-0Pathology Outlines}}Topic Completed: 27 October 2020. Minor changes: 2 June 2021.</ref>*Parathyroid '''adenoma''': Typically nodular growth with compressed rim of normal tissue.<ref name="ÅkerströmRudberg1986"MurroLin2020/>Serum calcium levels are generally elevated in patients with adenomas or hyperplastic glands containing large nodulesEither is indicated by a decreased amount of intra-gland adipose tissue, and often correlates with nephrosclerosisincreased weight. A weight of 35-160 mg is above average but not enough for a diagnosis in the absence of other findings.<ref group=notes name="ÅkerströmRudberg1986"weight/>

Whenever possible, make a single report for multiple fragments from the same location. Example:{|class=wikitable| A,B. Left inferior parathyroid gland, excision:<br>Hypercellular parathyroid gland (121 mg aggregate weight), consistent with parathyroid hyperplasia. C,D. Right superior parathyroid gland, excision:<br>Parathyroid gland (94 mg aggregate weight) without significant histopathologic changes. E. Left superior parathyroid gland, excision:<br>Hypercellular parathyroid gland (142 mg aggregate weight), consistent with parathyroid hyperplasia. F. Right inferior parathyroid gland, excision:<br>Hypercellular parathyroid gland (85 mg aggregate weight), consistent with parathyroid hyperplasia.|} Normal examplein '''autopsy''':*{|class=wikitable| Sections show <<1, 2, 3, 4>> parathyroid glands with no focal changes or signs of hyperplasia.|}