Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Parathyroid Cysts

Abstract

Objectives: The parathyroid cysts (PCs) are rare and their diagnosis and therapeutic management are not clearly established. The aim of the study was to evaluate the characteristics of parathyroid cysts. Methods and Materials: Twenty-five patients with PC were included in this retrospective study. The PCs were discovered as follows: cervical mass (n = 18), screening for other pathologies (n = 7). Intracystic parathyroid hormone determination was performed in 6 cases. Results: Eight patients presented a hyperparathyroidism. Mean cyst size was 21.1 mm (ext 4 -70 mm) by 19.8mm (5 -45 mm). Twenty four cysts were cervical (resection by cervicotomy), and one was mediastinal (resection by sternotomy). In addition to the resection of the PC, 3 adenomas, 1 hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands, 14 benign thyroid diseases and 4 papillary carcinomas were recognized and treated during the cervicotomies. Conclusion: The diagnosis of PC is uncommon and must be based primarily on the study of the cyst liquid obtained by percutaneous puncture (intracystic parathyroid hormone measurement). True PCs are non functional.

Parathyroid Cysts

“…In the literature, we could find only one study evaluating the prevalence of thyroid cancers in patients with PCYST. In this surgical study, 4 four papillary thyroid carcinomas were recognized and treated during the cervicotomies of 25 patients with PCYST. Additional studies are needed to clarify if there is an association between the two entities or the coexistence is just an incidental finding.…”