Is Parathyroid Carcinoma Indeed a Lethal Disease?

Abstract

Long-term survival is possible with parathyroid carcinoma. Death associated with parathyroid carcinoma was uncommon. A staging may be warranted despite the rarity of this disease.

Parathyroid Cancer - Occurrence, Diagnosis, Treatment

“…Very high levels of parathormone and calcium concentration in blood serum accompanied by problems connected with urinary or skeletal systems and by palpable neck tumor may suggest the presence of parathyroid cancer (28,57). Such relationship was shown by Shane et al (12) in 35% and Schantz and Castleman (20) in 31%.…”

“…To obtain correct diagnosis as well as assessment of treatment and prognosis for PC patients it is useful to measure parathormone and calcium concentrations in blood serum together with urea concentration and creatinine in kidneys before the primary operation, immediately after the operation and at later followup visits (12,50,57).…”

“…Total calcium concentration in PC patients' blood serum is usually significantly higher than normal, and its level often exceeds 3.5 mmol/l, whereas PTH concentration is usually ten to twenty times higher than the upper normal range (13,21,24,57). Immediately after the operation PTH level falls sharply, then is falling slowly for some time to finally reach the plateau (7,12,58).…”

“…Laboratory examinations used for diagnostics of parathyroid tumors include chiefly tests on calcium concentration in blood serum, obtained by Kleinpeter et al (57) when testing their group consisting of 23 patients.…”

“…During the 5-year period postoperatively most deaths are caused by recurrence of the hormonally active parathyroid cancer and related metabolic disturbances (7,27,41). cal examination will give a satisfactory answer to the question whether the increased parathyroid gland is or is not malignant (12,57). Therefore the diagnostic procedure should consider both clinical and intra-operative pictures but also doubts that might be raised during examinations for malignancy (24,45,56).…”