[Acute hyperparathyroidism. Emergency surgical operation in a case of hypercalcemic coma]

A case of acute hyperparathyroidism complicated by oliguric renal failure successfully resolved only after surgical removal of a parathyroid adenoma is reported. The need for early diagnosis of this rare condition is stressed and the commonest and most recent techniques for investigating primary hyperparathyroidism are discussed. In agreement with other reports, the importance of the earliest possible surgery, without which prognosis is almost always poor, is reiterated.