Primary hyperparathyroidism: a rare endocrinopathy in children. Two case reports

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Rare Endocrine Disorders

Background:

• Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is common in adults but rare in children and adolescents.
• Pediatric PHPT presents diagnostic challenges due to varied clinical manifestations.

Observation:

• Two pediatric cases of PHPT diagnosed at a children's hospital demonstrated dissimilar clinical courses.
• One case presented with severe symptoms indicative of a hypercalcemic crisis.
• The second case exhibited mild hypercalcemia and skeletal symptoms, attributed to early diagnosis.

Findings:

• PHPT in children can manifest with a wide spectrum of severity.
• Early identification of PHPT in pediatric patients is possible and influences disease course.
• Calcemia determination serves as a vital screening tool for pediatric PHPT.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering PHPT in the differential diagnosis of pediatric endocrine and skeletal conditions.
• Emphasizes the role of routine calcemia testing in early PHPT detection in children.
• Suggests that diverse clinical presentations necessitate a high index of suspicion for PHPT in pediatric populations.