Oncologic Progress for the Treatment of Parathyroid Carcinoma Is Needed

Background and Objectives: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is rare but potentially lethal. No standardized staging system or treatment guidelines have been established. We aimed to determine whether management of PC and patient outcomes have changed at our institution over the past 35 years. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with PC at our institution between 1980 and 2015. Patients were grouped by date of initial surgery: group 1, 1980-2001; group 2, 2002-2015. Results: About 57 patients (26 in group 1; 31 in group 2) were included. Group 2 had more female patients (61%) than group 1 (31%; P = 0.033). Patients in group 2 were older at the time of initial operation (mean age 48 years in group 1 (SD: 14.3) and 56 years (SD: 14.6) in group 2; P = 0.034). The 5-year OS rates were 82% (95% CI 59.6%, 93%) for group 1 and 72% (95% CI 45.0%, 87.7%) for group 2. The 5-year DFS rates were 62% (95% CI 36.4%, 79.9%) for group 1 and 66% (95% CI 40.6%, 82.2%) for group 2. Conclusion: Management of PC and patient outcomes (OS and DFS) have not significantly changed over the past 35 years at our institution. This rare malignancy needs oncologic improvement. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.