A Case of Parathyroid Carcinoma in Renal Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignant endocrine tumor that is usually associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. The coexistence of parathyroid carcinoma and renal hyperparathyroidism is a rare phenomenon. Hence, we present a case of parathyroid carcinoma in a patient wi...

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Published in:Case reports in oncology 2024-01, Vol.17 (1), p.283-290
Main Authors: Zheng, Victoria Meijia, Fei Leong, Eugene Kwong, Pinto, Diluka, Parameswaran, Rajeev, Wu, Bingcheng, Tan, Nicholas Jin Hong, Lee, James Wai Kit
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Calcification
Cancer
Case Report
Case reports
Cellular biology
Endocrine system
Hemodialysis
Hypercalcemia
Kidney diseases
Metastasis
Neuroendocrine tumors
parathyroid carcinoma
Patients
Proteins
renal hyperparathyroidism
Thyroid gland
Tumors
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Summary:Abstract Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignant endocrine tumor that is usually associated with primary hyperparathyroidism. The coexistence of parathyroid carcinoma and renal hyperparathyroidism is a rare phenomenon. Hence, we present a case of parathyroid carcinoma in a patient with tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Case Presentation: Our patient is a 31-year-old woman with a past medical history of end-stage renal failure (ESRF), on hemodialysis for the past 18 years. She was referred by her nephrologist to the endocrine surgery department for consideration of parathyroidectomy in view of long-standing tertiary hyperparathyroidism complicated by hypercalcemia. Bedside ultrasonography scan (US) of the thyroid revealed three parathyroid glands and a hypoechoic right lower pole thyroid nodule with central calcification. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed for the suspected thyroid nodule on the same day, which eventually yielded a follicular lesion of undetermined significance. A right hemithyroidectomy and total parathyroidectomy with deltoid implantation was performed. Intraoperative exploration revealed that the thyroid nodule noted at initial US was found to be the right superior parathyroid gland invading into the right thyroid itself. The right superior parathyroid gland was excised en bloc with the right hemithyroidectomy. Post-operatively, the patient was hypocalcemic but was discharged well on post-operative day 5. Histopathological diagnosis of the right hemithyroidectomy specimen containing the right superior parathyroid gland was consistent with that of parathyroid carcinoma. Conclusion: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare entity that is difficult to diagnose. In patients with ESRF, the presence of concurrent tertiary hyperparathyroidism makes this even more challenging.
ISSN:1662-6575
1662-6575
DOI:10.1159/000536444