Open AccessParathyroid carcinoma uncovering the enigma: Case report and review of literature
Author(s) -
Palash Mandal,
Sumit Ray,
Nandita Basu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of cytology/journal of cytology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.267
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 0974-5165
pISSN - 0970-9371
DOI - 10.4103/0970-9371.86359
Subject(s) - parathyroid carcinoma , medicine , primary hyperparathyroidism , histopathology , parathyroid neoplasm , differential diagnosis , goiter , parathyroid adenoma , thyroid carcinoma , hyperparathyroidism , carcinoma , pathology , adenoma , radiology , general surgery , thyroid
Parathyroid carcinoma is a very rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Pre-operative diagnosis remains a challenge. We report a case referred for a suspicious goiter with a poor general condition associated with hypercalcemia. Cytological findings attributed it to a possible parathyroid neoplasm that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of a nodular thyroid mass by the cytopathologist. Serum parathormone levels were correlated and the patient underwent surgery. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma. There can be a major pitfall, as it may appear indistinguishable from a benign adenoma.