Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy

Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy that is challenging to diagnose, with metastasis regarded as the only true way to differentiate parathyroid carcinoma from adenoma. Case presentation: A 63 year-old woman presented to the emergency department with neck and right arm pain. She...

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Main Authors: Kaitlyn A. Brooks, Brett T. Jensen, Syed H.S. Naqvi, Karim W. Asi, Ron J. Karni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-03-01
Series:Otolaryngology Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468548818301723
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author Kaitlyn A. Brooks
Brett T. Jensen
Syed H.S. Naqvi
Karim W. Asi
Ron J. Karni
author_facet Kaitlyn A. Brooks
Brett T. Jensen
Syed H.S. Naqvi
Karim W. Asi
Ron J. Karni
author_sort Kaitlyn A. Brooks
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy that is challenging to diagnose, with metastasis regarded as the only true way to differentiate parathyroid carcinoma from adenoma. Case presentation: A 63 year-old woman presented to the emergency department with neck and right arm pain. She reported a previous parathyroidectomy for a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Admission labs showed hypercalcemia (serum calcium 13; ionized calcium 1.47; PTH 138.5). MRI-spine revealed a soft tissue mass causing destruction of the C4 vertebral body and spinal cord compression. Sestamibi showed intense tracer uptake in the vertebral mass with nonfocal physiologic thyroidal uptake. Otolaryngology was consulted to assist in the approach to the cervical spine lesion as well as address the hypercalcemia. Intraoperatively, the vertebral mass was exposed and resected; frozen section revealed hypercellular parathyroid and PTH dropped from 138.5 to 9.1. Discussion: Parathyroid carcinoma typically presents with comorbidities due to hypercalcemia. Novelties from the case, including the unusual presentation with spinal cord compression, are discussed. Keywords: Parathyroidectomy, Parathyroid glands, Malignancy, Metastasis, Cervical spine
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spelling doaj.art-7e2c4ec5aaa04368bc998e811d6f10372022-12-22T00:52:24ZengElsevierOtolaryngology Case Reports2468-54882019-03-01101012Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomyKaitlyn A. Brooks0Brett T. Jensen1Syed H.S. Naqvi2Karim W. Asi3Ron J. Karni4Corresponding author. University of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, 6431 Fannin St MSB 5.036, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.; University of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Houston, TX, USAUniversity of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Houston, TX, USAUniversity of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Houston, TX, USAUniversity of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Houston, TX, USAUniversity of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Department of Otorhinolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Houston, TX, USAIntroduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy that is challenging to diagnose, with metastasis regarded as the only true way to differentiate parathyroid carcinoma from adenoma. Case presentation: A 63 year-old woman presented to the emergency department with neck and right arm pain. She reported a previous parathyroidectomy for a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Admission labs showed hypercalcemia (serum calcium 13; ionized calcium 1.47; PTH 138.5). MRI-spine revealed a soft tissue mass causing destruction of the C4 vertebral body and spinal cord compression. Sestamibi showed intense tracer uptake in the vertebral mass with nonfocal physiologic thyroidal uptake. Otolaryngology was consulted to assist in the approach to the cervical spine lesion as well as address the hypercalcemia. Intraoperatively, the vertebral mass was exposed and resected; frozen section revealed hypercellular parathyroid and PTH dropped from 138.5 to 9.1. Discussion: Parathyroid carcinoma typically presents with comorbidities due to hypercalcemia. Novelties from the case, including the unusual presentation with spinal cord compression, are discussed. Keywords: Parathyroidectomy, Parathyroid glands, Malignancy, Metastasis, Cervical spinehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468548818301723
spellingShingle Kaitlyn A. Brooks
Brett T. Jensen
Syed H.S. Naqvi
Karim W. Asi
Ron J. Karni
Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
Otolaryngology Case Reports
title Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
title_full Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
title_fullStr Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
title_full_unstemmed Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
title_short Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
title_sort metastatic parathyroid carcinoma presenting as an osteolytic cervical vertebral mass 5 years after parathyroidectomy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468548818301723
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