Diagnosis and Treatment > Intervention > Parathyroidectomy

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E Castellano
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M Pellegrino
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R Attanasio Endocrinology Service, Galeazzi Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy

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V Guarnieri Genetics Unit, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, IRCCS, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy

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A Maffè Genetics and Molecular Biology, Santa Croce and Carle, Cuneo, Italy

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G Borretta
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Summary

We report the association of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and Klinefelter's syndrome (KS) in a 22-year-old male complaining of worsening fatigue. PHPT was asymptomatic at the diagnosis, but the patient had worsening hypercalcemia and osteoporosis, and developed acute renal colic. He then underwent parathyroidectomy with resection of a single adenoma and normalization of calcium and parathyroid hormone levels. Clinical and therapeutic implications of this rare association are discussed.

Learning points

  • The coexistence of KS and PHPT is very uncommon.

  • Patients with mild PHPT often have nonspecific symptoms that may be confused and superimposed with those of hypogonadism.

  • KS patients, especially when young and already osteoporotic at diagnosis, should be screened for other causes of secondary osteoporosis, in particular PHPT.

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Manas Ghosh Sanjiban Hospital, Kolkata, India

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Ambarish Bhattacharya Department of Medicine, Sanjiban Hospital, Kolkata, India

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Kaushik Ghosh Department of Medicine, Malda Medical College, Malda, West Bengal 732101, India

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Atri Chatterjee Department of Neurology, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India

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Sisir Chakraborty Department of Medicine, College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital, Kolkata, India

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Sanat Kumar Jatua Department of Medicine, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India

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Summary

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive devastating neurodegenerative disease, which universally progresses towards death. Hence, every attempt should be made to find out if there are any treatable conditions, which can mimic MND. Herein, we describe a case of hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism confused as MND and subsequently cured with parathyroid surgery.

Learning points

  • Any patient with neurological disorder should have a screening of all the common electrolytes including calcium as electrolyte imbalance can present with paralysis (e.g. hypokalaemia) to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (e.g. hypercalcaemia).

  • No patient should be stamped as having MND without having a proper work-up of all its differentials as there might be a treatable condition masquerading as MND.

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Sachiko-Tsukamoto Kawashima Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Tango Central Hospital, Kyoto, Japan

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Takeshi Usui Clinical Research Institute

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Yohei Ueda Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Maiko-Kakita Kobayashi Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Mika Tsuiki Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Kanako Tanase-Nakao Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Kazutaka Nanba Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Tetsuya Tagami Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan

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Mitsuhide Naruse Clinical Research Institute

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Yoshiki Watanabe Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, 1-1 Mukaihata-cho, Fukakusa, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan

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Ryo Asato Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, 1-1 Mukaihata-cho, Fukakusa, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8555, Japan

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Sumiko Kato Osaka Saiseikai Ibaraki Hospital, Osaka, Japan

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Akira Shimatsu Clinical Research Institute

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Summary

Parathyroid cystic adenomas are often misdiagnosed as thyroid cysts and routine preoperative diagnostic tools, such as ultrasonography (US) or 99m technetium-sestamibi (99mTc-MIBI) scans, cannot clearly distinguish between these entities. We present a 67-year-old hypercalcemic woman with a cervical cystic lesion who had negative sestamibi scan results. Her laboratory data indicated primary hyperparathyroidism (serum calcium concentration 14.0 mg/dl, phosphate concentration 2.3 mg/dl, and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration 239 pg/ml). The cervical US and computed tomography scans revealed a large and vertically long cystic mass (12×11×54 mm). A mass was located from the upper end of the left thyroid lobe to the submandibular region and was not clearly distinguishable from the thyroid. For preoperative definitive diagnosis, we carried out a parathyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and PTH assay (PTH–FNA) of liquid aspirated from the cyst. The intact PTH–FNA concentration was 1.28×106 pg/ml, and the patient was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism due to a cystic mass. She underwent a left upper parathyroidectomy and her serum calcium and intact PTH concentration immediately decreased to normal levels. This report describes the usefulness of PTH–FNA for localizing and differentiating an atypical functional parathyroid lesion from nonfunctional tissue in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Learning points

  • Cystic parathyroid lesions, even in the case of elevated PTH levels, can produce negative results in 99mTc-MIBI scans.

  • Preoperative diagnosis of parathyroid cysts detectable on US is possible by parathyroid FNA and PTH assay (PTH–FNA) of liquid aspirated from the cyst, if malignancy is not suspected.

  • PTH–FNA could be helpful in the differential diagnosis of an equivocal cervical tumor.

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K Nadarasa Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK

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M Bailey Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK

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H Chahal Imperial Centre for Endocrinology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK

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O Raja Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK

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R Bhat Department of Neonatology, King's College Hospital, London, UK

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C Gayle Department of Diabetes, King's College Hospital, London, UK

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A B Grossman Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK

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M R Druce Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK

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Summary

We present the case of a patient with metastatic parathyroid carcinoma whose hypercalcaemia was medically managed through two pregnancies. The diagnosis was made when the patient presented with chronic knee pain and radiological findings consistent with a brown tumour, at the age of 30. Her corrected calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were significantly elevated. Following localisation studies, a right parathyroidectomy was performed with histology revealing parathyroid carcinoma, adherent to thyroid tissue. Aged 33, following biochemical recurrence of disease, the patient underwent a second operation. A subsequent CT and FDG–PET revealed bibasal pulmonary metastases. Aged 35, the patient was referred to our unit for treatment of persistent hypercalcaemia. The focus of treatment at this time was debulking metastatic disease using radiofrequency ablation. Despite advice to the contrary, the patient conceived twice while taking cinacalcet. Even though there are limited available data regarding the use of cinacalcet in pregnancy, both pregnancies continued to term with the delivery of healthy infants, using intensive medical management for persistent hypercalcaemia.

Learning points

  • Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism.

  • Hypercalcaemia during pregnancy can result in significant complications for both the mother and the foetus.

  • The use of high-dose cinacalcet in pregnancy has been shown, in this case, to aid in the management of resistant hypercalcaemia without teratogenicity.

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