title: Parathyroid cysts of the neck and mediastinum. Case report.
abstract: Five cases of parathyroid cyst are presented and the literature concerning this rare entity is reviewed. Three of the five cysts were located in the neck and were non-functioning. The other two were in the anterior mediastinum and functioning, and indeed were associated with hypercalcemic crisis. Four cases were treated surgically, and in one non-functioning parathyroid cyst both diagnosis and treatment were accomplished with fine-needle aspiration. The cystic appearance, color of the fluid contents, high content of parathyroid hormone and histologic features distinguish parathyroid cyst from the much commoner thyroid cyst. Non-functioning parathyroid cysts can be treated with fine-needle aspiration, whereas functioning cysts require surgical removal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Areteion Hospital, Athens University, Greece.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Linos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schoretsanitis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carvounis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery