Carcinoma of the Parathyroid

Carcinoma of the parathyroid glands is a rare malignant neoplasm. The true incidence of this tumor cannot yet be determined due to the small recorded experience and the variable histologic criteria utilized in diagnosis.

This report documents an example of parathyroid carcinoma followed for 14 years. It is the second longest recorded survival for a patient known to harbor this neoplasm. The tumor was initially considered to be a benign adenoma. The indolent course of the tumor over a period of 12 years is contrasted with a 2-year interval of extreme humoral activity culminating in death from uremia. The hormonal surfeit was of moderate severity as judged by the degree of hypercalcemia until shortly before the patient's death. Radioimmunoassay of plasma parathormone, however, indicated intense secretory activity.

Patient Summary  A 29-year-old white man was admitted to the Lenox Hill Hospital on Dec 21, 1953. The patient was in good health