Symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: a retrospective analysis of fifty one cases from a single centre

Widely prevalent vitamin D deficiency and delayed diagnosis contributes to severe symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism in India. We analysed fifty one consecutive patients of primary hyperparathyroidism managed at our centre. All of them were symptomatic.

Retrospective analysis.

Fifty one consecutive cases of symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism, presenting to our centre from January 1994 to May 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical presentation, biochemical, radiological and details of underlying parathyroid lesion were noted.

A total of 51 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism were studied. Mean age was 39.5 +/- 11.5 yrs (Range 13 to 70 years, Female: Male 2:1). Mean duration of symptoms was 35.8 + 29.1 months. Bone pains and painful proximal myopathy were the commonest presentation (24/51), followed by pathological fractures in 12 cases. Distal Renal tubular acidosis was diagnosed in 4 cases, 3 of whom normalized after surgery. At initial evaluation, twenty one patients had elevated alkaline phosphatase with normal calcium levels indirectly suggesting associated vitamin D deficiency. Low serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D were documented in five of them. Parathyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 3 patients. Ectopic parathyroid adenoma was seen in 7 cases (3 mediastinal, 3 intrathyroidal, 1 near left carotid sheath). All the cases responded well to surgical excision.

Lack of universal screening for hypercalcemia, normocalcemia contributed by associated vitamin D deficiency and lack of awareness about unusual presentations of primary hyperparathyroidism led to delayed diagnosis in our patients. Delayed diagnosis and associated vitamin D deficiency in our patients contributed to greater severity of symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism.