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Parathyroid gland histology (low magnification)

Low-magnification micrograph of the parathyroid gland. Hematoxylin and eosin stain. The predominant cell type is the chief cell, with its intense hyperchromatic to eosinophilic cytoplasmic staining; chief cells manufacture parathyroid hormone. Less common are oxyphil cells (lower right) with light hyperchromatic to eosinophilic cytoplasmic staining and an abundant amount of cytoplasm. Of the parenchymal cells, chief cells stain more intensely than oxyphil cells. Adipocytes (white) are also present and increase with age in the parathyroid gland. A blood vessel with red blood cells present in the lumen is on the left. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.)

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Associated Disorders

  • Acute and chronic renal failure
  • Endocrine disorders
  • Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
  • Granulomatous disorders
  • Infantile hypercalcemia (Williams syndrome)
  • Malignancy
  • Milk-alkali syndrome
  • Primary hyperparathyroidism