Parathyroid Cancer in the United Kingdom: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 10-year Post-surgical Recurrence

Parathyroid cancer is an uncommon malignant condition that usually presents with symptoms of hypercalcaemia. The standard treatment involves surgery, which has a broad spectrum of post-operative recurrence rates. This meta-analysis aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and the 10-year recurrence rate of parathyroid cancer in the UK. This study was a systematic review carried out in strict compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The meta-analysis was performed utilizing MetaXL version 5.3, applying the DerSimonian Laird random effects model. A total of five studies, encompassing 115 participants, fulfilled the eligibility requirements. The mean age of the subject was 53.8 years. The ratio of women to men was roughly equal. Additionally, 10.5% of the patients presented with metastatic disease. Hypercalcaemia was noted in every case. The combined 10-year post-operative recurrence rate for parathyroid cancer in the UK stands at 9.0% (95% confidence interval: 4.0-15.0). The recurrence rate after surgery for parathyroid cancer is significantly elevated; therefore, it is highly recommended to establish long-term, and possibly lifetime, monitoring. The high occurrence of synchronous metastases in parathyroid indicates a necessity for sensitive biomarkers to facilitate early detection.