title: Massive extracapsular hemorrhage from a parathyroid cyst.
abstract: A 32-year-old man had a giant cervical mass, dysphagia, dyspnea, and severe hypercalcemia. A computed tomographic scan showed the mass to extend from the left mandible to the level of the aortic arch. Exploratory surgery of the neck revealed a ruptured parathyroid cyst complicated by massive hemorrhage into the cervical tissues and mediastinum. The postoperative course was uncomplicated with prompt resolution of the hypercalcemia. Although a rare occurrence, extracapsular parathyroid hemorrhage should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all rapidly evolving cervical and mediastinal masses, especially when hypercalcemia is present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colo.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Simcic
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: McDermott
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ownbey
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kidd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis