Surgical resection of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma

The incidence of parathyroid carcinoma is no more than 0.5 to 3% of parathyroid neoplasms and can often be cured by an adequate initial surgical excision. If the carcinoma has already spread outside the capsule or is implanted at surgery, the chance of local recurrence is high, but is best managed by surgical resection of any recurrence. Distant metastases occur less frequently, but the associated hypercalcemia is poorly controlled by hormonal, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Though the chance for cure is small, a review of previously reported cases and our own experience leads us to encourage an aggressive search for metastases, and if possible, surgical resection. If not curative, this approach will often allow prolonged palliation of the effect of hypercalcemia.