PREOPERATIVE DIAGNOSIS OF PARATHYROID CARCINOMA

Abstract

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare entity in parathyroid neoplasms that cause primary hyperthyroidism (PHPT) and is often difficult to diagnose preoperatively. We studyied clinical features of 6 patients with parathyroid carcinoma (2.6%) from among 235 patients with PHPT undergoing surgery in the last 36 years. Compared to cases of parathyroid adenoma, findings in parathyroid carcinoma of palpable neck mass (p<0.0001 vs. adenoma), a larger mass (p<0.0001), bone disorders (p=0.04), and higher levels of calcium (p=0.0002) and parathormone (p=0.0005) were significant for diagnosis. PHPT meeting these clinical features turned out to be malignant and are important in determining surgical procedures.