Parathyroid adenoma in northern Nigeria

A middle-aged farmer and a female student presented with osteitis fibrosa cystica with nephrocalcinosis in the former and nephrolithiasis in the latter due to primary hyperparathyroidism. Hypercalcaemia was present in both cases and neck exploration revealed a large solitary parathyroid adenoma which was excised. Because primary hyperparathyroidism is less common in tropical countries doctors may be less familiar with the early manifestations of the disease. The number of patients thus undiagnosed and untreated is unknown.