Hypercalcemia associated with chronic renal failure is often a matter of
clinical problems. Among the many cause of hypercalcemia, tertiary
hyperparathyroidism, which is secreting parathyroid hormone autonomously in
spite of hypercalcemia, is seldom reported. Sometimes it requires surgical
intervention due to not only symptomatic hypercalcemia, but also
longlasting asymptomatic hypercalcemia. We recently have experienced a male
patient with hypercalcemia in a thirty year old, who maintains on
hemodialysis. He had markedly elevated level of parathyroid hormone and
preoperative imaging studies for diagnosis revealed the presence of large
mass in left thryroid gland and right lower parathyroid gland. The patient
underwent total thyroidectomy and right inferior parathyroidectomy.
Pathology revealed parathyroid adenoma with concurrent papillary thyroid
carcinoma. The coexistence of parathyroid adenoma and thyroid malignancy
was possible for patients in tertiary hyperparathyroidism with thyroid
nodules. Therefore, careful thyroid evaluation must be necessary for
patients with tertiary hyperparathyroidism. |