Lipoadenoma of the parathyroid gland

An unusual parathyroid adenoma containing abundant adipose tissue is described in four patients. In one patient, hyperparathyroidism was documented; in another, studies were incomplete but the adenoma was probably functioning. Prior reports of similar lesions have been called "parathyroid hamartoma or parathyroid adenoma with myxoid stroma," and some of these also have been shown to be functional. They may create diagnostic difficulties because of the presence of adipose tissue, a feature associated with normal parathyroid glands.