Systematic review of oral manifestations related to hyperparathyroidism

We sought to identify oral symptoms found in hyperparathyroidism and compare their rate of occurrence, as well as potential variations in sequelae between primary, secondary, and tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

Database searches were performed through EMBASE and PubMed, with a continual handsearch for relevant articles. PRISMA guidelines were followed.

Two hundred five articles including 245 patients were analyzed with data extraction. The average age was 34.02 years old (age range 1-83), with 91 male and 154 female patients (1:1.7 M/F ratio). Patients presented with symptoms including facial asymmetry or swelling (167/214 cases; 78.0%), oral pain (30/214; 14.0%), systemic symptoms (25/214; 11.7%), referrals or incidental findings (16/214; 7.5%), and neuropathy (6/214; 2.8%) independently and in combination together. Bony pathology occurred most often in the mandible (100/245 cases; 40.8%), while 72 cases were in the maxilla (29.4%) and 73 cases in both jaw bones (29.8%).

Our data collection identifies a wide variation in the presentation of hyperparathyroidism. In order to be more certain of oral maladies from hyperparathyroidism, studies with large patient populations need to be conducted at healthcare centers to clarify the oral outcomes of hyperparathyroidism.

What was thought to be a characteristic finding of HPT, mandibular radiolucency occurred in only a minor portion of cases. Furthermore, the pathognomonic sign of HPT on radiograph, loss of lamina dura, was only the third most common presentation. Bone pathology was most commonly reported in literature, but should not be assumed the only oral sequelae of hyperparathyroidism.