Parathyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Parathyroid carcinoma is rare and represents 0.1% to 5% of the cases of hyperparathyroidism. New accounts are important to the understanding of these tumors. Experience in 9 cases is reported.


METHODS
From 1970 to 1995, 10 patients with parathyroid carcinoma demonstrated by clinical course or pathologic features of malignancy were treated. The patient's clinical data, laboratory and imaging examinations, surgical findings, pathology, recurrences, and survival were analyzed.


RESULTS
One male patient was excluded because of insufficient data. Average age was 51 years, with female:male ratio of 2:1. Average calcium level was 14,3 mg/dL. Palpable mass was found in 55%, bone disease in 89%, and renal disease in 78%. Four patients were reoperations. Five were operated on for hyperparathyroidism (1/tertiary). Capsular invasion was the most incident pathologic feature. Local recurrence occurred in 55%; neck node and bone metastasis in 11%, and lung in 33%. Two patients are alive and 5 died of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Parathyroid carcinoma has clinical and laboratory features that can help diagnosis at the first surgery. It seems to have variable malignancy.
Cordeiro
A C
AC
Department of Surgery, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Brazil.
Montenegro
F L
FL
Kulcsar
M A
MA
Dellanegra
L A
LA
Tavares
M R
MR
Michaluart
P
P
Ferraz
A R
AR
D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010173:Palpation; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013997:Time Factors