Hyperfunctional parathyroid carcinoma

The parathyroid cancer is mentioned in literature with an incidence of 0.5-5% in the etiology of the primary hyperparathyroidism. The authors present the case of a 45 year old female with diagnosis of "primary hyperparathyroidism" based on clinical, ultrasonographic and biochemical investigations. A right superior adenoma of 3 x 2 x 1 cm (150 mg) has been found and extirpated. The histological examination showed an adenoma with predominant "chief" cells. Three years after surgery the patient had a recurrence of the clinical and hypercalcemie syndrome (with more severe damages). The surgical reexploration showed the right thyroid lobe with a nodular aspect and in its inferior pole a enlarged parathyroid gland of one cm size was found. An en-block exeresis including the right thyroid lobe with isthmus as well as the mentioned lesion and the half of left superior parathyroid, the left inferior one together with retrosternal fat tissue have been performed. Frozen sections completed by paraffin examination established the diagnosis of hyperfunctioning parathyroid carcinoma. We have emphasize the issues that could suggest the initially preoperative true diagnosis: the large size of excised adenoma and the relatively quick recurrence of the phenomena of parathyroid hyperfunction. The surgical principles and strategies in the treatment of parathyroid cancer are also discussed.