Case series of diagnosis and surgery challenges in parathyroid carcinoma

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is a rare malignancy that accounts for 1 % of cases of hyperparathyroidism. Data regarding PC in Indonesia are scarce, which poses challenges to diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to describe a series of PC cases from a tertiary health care center over 12 years.

Retrospective data of six patients with hyperparathyroidism diagnosed with PC between 2008 and 2020 were reviewed. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and short-term outcomes of PC were analyzed. All six PC patients were diagnosed postoperatively. Four of the patients presented with symptomatic hypercalcemia, and two presented with neck swelling. Elevated serum parathyroid hormone was observed in five patients. Only two patients had imaging results corresponding to PC characteristics. Ipsilateral parathyroidectomies were performed on 5 patients where invasion and metastasis are not evident. Four frozen section samples suggested PC, and two suggested parathyroid adenoma. Further histopathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of PC in all patients. No metastasis to the adjacent lymph nodes or distant target organs was found during surgery.

Preoperative diagnosis of PC remains challenging. Suspicion of PC is appropriate in the presence of severe hypercalcemia, elevated parathyroid hormone level, and a mass observed either during imaging or intraoperatively.

Ipsilateral parathyroidectomy seems to be feasible compared to total resection in order to preserve function and structure. Incomplete excision may lead to an increased risk of recurrence, emphasizing the importance of routinely following up on PC cases.