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Functioning lipoadenoma of the parathyroid gland
E A de Leacy1, R A Axelsen, D S Kleinman
1Department of Pathology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
Pathology
|October 1, 1988
Summary
A rare parathyroid lipoadenoma was found during an autopsy in an elderly man with hyperparathyroidism. This uncommon cause of hypercalcemia was identified post-mortem after being detected during life.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Pathology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Hyperparathyroidism is a condition characterized by excessive parathyroid hormone production.
- Diagnosis often involves biochemical tests like serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels.
- Cerebral infarction can complicate the clinical presentation in elderly patients.
Observation:
- An elderly male patient presented with symptoms suggestive of hyperparathyroidism, including hypercalcemia and elevated serum immunoreactive parathormone.
- The patient had a history of cerebral infarction.
- An autopsy was performed to investigate the cause of the terminal hyperparathyroidism.
Findings:
- A lipoadenoma of the parathyroid gland was identified as the cause of hyperparathyroidism.
- This represents a rare pathological finding, particularly when diagnosed post-mortem.
- The authors note this is the only documented case of parathyroid lipoadenoma found at autopsy following documented hypercalcemia during life.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering rare parathyroid pathologies in the differential diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism.
- Underscores the utility of autopsy in identifying the underlying causes of complex clinical presentations in elderly patients.
- Contributes to the literature on parathyroid gland tumors and their association with endocrine dysfunction.