Successful resection of hepatic and pulmonary metastases in a patient with parathyroid carcinoma

We describe the effect of repeated surgical procedures in a patient with metastatic parathyroid carcinoma over a period of seven years. Initially a subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed for adenomatous hyperplasia. After two years of normocalcemia, hypercalcemia reccured. Two subsequent re-explorations, one of the neck and one of the mediastinum, showed no abnormalities. Histopathologic revision of the primary specimen demonstrated parathyroid carcinoma. Attention was then focused on extra-regional disease, and a hepatic metastasis was detected and successfully resected. Within one year, functional pulmonary metastases occurred. These metastases were treated by four thoracotomies, each providing effective palliation. Eventually the patient died of uncontrollable hypercalcemia seven years after the primary procedure. Even at the time of death there were no signs of recurrent disease in the neck. Parathyroid carcinoma is known to produce local and distant metastases causing severe hypercalcemia. Because medical treatment mostly offers only temporary success and surgery facilitates effective palliation with minimal morbidity, an aggressive surgical approach for functional metastases of parathyroid carcinoma is recommended.