title: [Clinical analysis on nonfunctioning parathyroid cysts: a report of six cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical and pathological characteristics, diagnoses and treatments of nonfunctioning parathyroid cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six cases of nonfunctioning parathyroid cysts treated in Tongren Hospital during 2002 - 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Nonfunctioning parathyroid cysts in the six patients were inadvertently found as neck masses by physical examination. The levels of serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone were normal. Five cases of 6 patients with imaging suggested the existence of cystic mass in the back of inferior thyroid in 5 cases of the 6 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumors in the 6 patients were removed surgically and diagnosed as parathyroid cysts with post-operative pathological examination. PTH (parathyroid hormone), CgA (chromogranin A), Syn (synaptophysin) expressions in the tumors were positive. No recurrence was found with follow-up of 2 - 9 years after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical resection is most effective for the treatments of nonfunctioning parathyroid cysts and pathologic examination is required for the determined diagnosis of this disease. Fine needle aspiration can be helpful for the diagnosis before operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100710, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ju-gao
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Hong-bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhi-gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies