Parathyroid Cancer: Risk Factors

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 12/2014



There are no known causes for most parathyroid tumors. However, the following risk factor may increase a person’s chance of developing a parathyroid tumor:

Family history. A history of parathyroid tumors in a family may raise a person’s risk of developing a parathyroid tumor. A hereditary, or inherited, condition known as multiple endocrine neoplasia may raise an individual’s risk for benign parathyroid tumors. For more information, visit the sections describing multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). No genetic factors have been linked to parathyroid cancer. 

There are no known risk factors for people who do not have a family history of parathyroid tumors.
