Parathyroid Carcinoma: A Clinical Case Report and Literature Review

Parathyroid carcinoma is an exceptionally rare malignant tumor of the parathyroid gland. Clinically, it most often presents as severe primary hyperparathyroidism. Diagnosis relies on histopathological analysis, although it is often difficult to establish due to the lack of clearly pathognomonic criteria. Management is primarily based on complete surgical excision. We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with no significant medical history, admitted for evaluation of a suspicious parathyroid nodule discovered in the context of hyperparathyroidism. She underwent parathyroidectomy along with total thyroidectomy. The postoperative course was favorable, with normalization of laboratory parameters and no signs of recurrence. This case highlights the diagnostic complexity of parathyroid carcinoma, despite suggestive clinical, biological, and imaging findings. Histological diagnosis remains challenging due to overlapping features with benign lesions. Complete surgical excision during the initial operation is the main favorable prognostic factor, both for therapeutic success and prevention of recurrence.