[Four cases of parathyroid cancer]

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism with a prevalence ranging between 0.5 and 4%. Because of their aggressiveness, prompt diagnosis and treatment are mandatory. A parathyroid carcinoma was found in four patients (4.5%) of 88 patients who underwent surgical cervical exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism at the Institute Nacional de la Nutrición in a period of seven years. Our paper gives the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of the four patients.