Brain metastases of parathyroid carcinoma: Review of the literature and a case report

Background. Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare tumor typically presenting with marked elevations of serum calcium concentrations and associated renal and skeletal symptoms. Parathyroid carcinoma grows slowly, but may recur in regional lymph nodes, and, in about 25% of patients, metastasizes to the lungs. Method. Description of a new case and review of the literature. Results. We present here a patient with parathyroid carcinoma that had aggressive biological behavior with synchronous lung metastases and manifestation of brain metastases 18 month after the initial diagnosis and review earlier reports on this rare presentation. These metastases could be detected with [F-18] fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/computed tomography as well as with (99)mtechnetium-sestamibi scan. Conclusions. Except for surgery in case of isolated solitary metastases, therapeutic options in patients with brain metastases of parathyroid carcinoma are currently very limited.