title: Parathyroid cysts: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Parathyroid cysts are rare clinical entities. They frequently present as a clinical diagnostic problem. They may mimic solitary thyroid nodules. The purpose of the study was to review the literature and present a case of a 22-year-old euthyroid woman presenting with recurrent swelling in the neck. Her complaints included choking and dysphagia. Fine-needle aspiration of the mass revealed clear, watery fluid with an extremely high level of calcium and c-terminal midmolecule parathyroid hormone assay in excess of 8000 pg/mL. Treatment consisted of neck exploration and removal of a 6 x 5-cm cystic encapsulated mass. Pathological diagnosis revealed a benign parathyroid cyst. The role of needle aspiration in diagnosing thyroid masses and the importance of parathyroid hormone assay in diagnosing parathyroid cyst are emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30310, USA. JKFORTSON1@POL.NET
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Fortson
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010280:Parathyroid Glands / Q000473:pathology; D016105:Parathyroidectomy