Abstract

Aim and introduction: Parathyroid cysts (PCs) are lesions arising from the parathyroid glands and are located from the angle of the mandible to the mediastinum, representing 1 to 5% of neck masses. They have a female predominance and occur usually in the fourth and fifth decade of life. They are subdivided into two categories according to their hormonal activity: Functioning and nonfunctioning ones. Except for parathyroid adenoma, hyperplasia, and carcinoma, functioning cysts are an additional rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PH) and should be taken into consideration in the investigation of cystic neck masses. Case report: We report a case of 38-year-old man, who was admitted to our hospital for the investigation of an asymptomatic hypercalcemia identified incidentally. In his laboratory tests, ionized calcium and parathormone (PTH) were elevated, while phosphorus was decreased. A 6.5 × 3.5 cm cystic structure was revealed in ultrasound examination, scintigraphy, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, but was not indicative of PC, and surgical exploration was mandatory. The cyst was completely excised and the pathological examination revealed a PC that coexisted with an adenoma. Postoperative PTH, calcium, and phosphorus values were within normal ranges and the patient was discharged the first postoperative day. Conclusion and clinical significance: Parathyroid cysts should be treated with gentle manipulations during surgical procedure in order that it is not ruptured and the recurrence is avoided.

Authors and Affiliations