Poster Presentation The Annual Scientific Meeting of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology 2014

Refractory hyperparathyroidism with a T3 bony lesion – differential diagnoses (#240)

Daniela WC Chan 1 , Diana Moir 2 , Richard Standish 2 , Mark A Kotowicz 1 3
  1. Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  2. St John of God Pathology, Geelong, Vic, Australia
  3. Deakin University School of Medicine, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Introduction

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is common with 85% due to a sporadic solitary adenoma, 10-15% multiglandular disease, and <1% parathyroid carcinoma[1]. Differentiating carcinoma from benign causes at presentation can be difficult. Brown tumour (osteitis fibrosa cystica) is a rare manifestation of severe hyperparathyroidism[2] with locally invasive lesions resembling primary bone tumours or bony metastases[3].

Case report

An 83 year old man admitted with myocardial infarction was incidentally found to have severe, asymptomatic hypercalcaemia (Ca2+ 3.13mmol/L) and hyperparathyroidism (PTH>100pmol/L). Neck ultrasound and sestamibi failed to localise a parathyroid adenoma. MRI showed bilateral enlarged inferior parathyroid glands (L 7.6x12x17mm, R 16x14x15mm) and a right T3 bony lesion, not evident on bone scan. PSA and myeloma screens were negative.

Left inferior parathyroidectomy, left hemithyroidectomy, and partial resection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve with the enlarged right parathyroid gland left in situ were performed due to an intraoperative suspicion of parathyroid carcinoma. Histopathology showed some atypical features with no definite malignant features. Immunohistochemistry for parafibromin and PGP9.5 was inconclusive.

Staging CT and FDG PET showed a lytic, hypermetabolic T3 soft tissue bony lesion with local invasion. A right T3 hemilaminectomy was undertaken and histopathological examination indicated a brown turmour. A right parathyroidectomy was then performed and histopathology showed features most consistent with glandular hyperplasia or a parathyroid adenoma. Serum calcium and PTH normalised postoperatively and remained stable.

Conclusion

The presence of the bony lesion with hyperparathyroidism raised the possibility of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma, with a differential diagnosis of primary bone tumour, metastasis with co-existing hyperparathyroidism, or brown tumour. Differentiation of parathyroid carcinoma from other benign tumours may be difficult, due to overlapping clinical, biochemical, imaging and histological features.  Regardless, clinical suspicion of parathyroid carcinoma or multigland disease demands that all four parathyroid glands should be thoroughly explored to minimise the risk of recurrence.

  1. Silverberg, S.J., M.D. Walker, and J.P. Bilezikian, Asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Densitom, 2013. 16(1): p. 14-21.
  2. De Crea, C., et al., Are brown tumours a forgotten disease in developed countries? Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital, 2012. 32(6): p. 410-5.
  3. Hong, W.S., et al., Emphasis on the MR imaging findings of brown tumor: a report of five cases. Skeletal Radiol, 2011. 40(2): p. 205-13.