Can a person live without a parathyroid gland?
Yes. There are four parathyroid glands in the body, and a person only needs part of one to maintain the necessary level of calcium in the blood.
Most people who have parathyroid removal surgery only need one gland removed. It is very rare for a person to have no remaining parathyroid glands. When this is the case, it can cause ongoing health issues that may require lifelong treatment.