Spontaneous hemorrhage of a parathyroid adenoma into the mediastinum

To describe the case of a previously healthy 56-year-old woman, who presented with acute, nontraumatic pain in the left side of the neck and mild dysphagia.

We report the results of the physical examination, imaging studies, and clinical laboratory studies. In addition, we describe the patient's hospital course after surgical intervention.

A patient who sought medical attention because of acute, nontraumatic neck pain and dysphagia was subsequently found to have acute extracapsular hemorrhage of a parathyroid adenoma. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies revealed a mass effect beginning in the neck and extending into the mediastinum. Surgical exploration of the neck and histopathologic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma with associated hemorrhage.

Extracapsular hemorrhage of a parathyroid adenoma is rare and necessitates a high index of clinical suspicion for diagnosis. This diagnosis should be considered in a patient who presents with acute anemia, hypercalcemia, and a neck mass.