Metastatic microcalcification in the lungs and stomach due to hyperparathyroidism: A case report

Abstract

We present a case of a 34-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital with a six-month history of nausea and vomiting that had worsened over the past two weeks. Diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to a single parathyroid adenoma was confirmed by laboratory results and imaging but following pharmacological therapy the patient developed a dry cough. Single-photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) with technetium-99m-diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) was used to assist in the diagnosis and results showed diffuse metastatic microcalcification in the lungs and stomach. The patient underwent right parathyroidectomy and 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT scan six months later showed a significantly reduced radioactive distribution in the lungs and none in the stomach. Diffuse metastatic microcalcification in the lungs and stomach due to PHTP is rare and can easily be misdiagnosed.

A Fatal Case of Metastatic Pulmonary Calcification during the Puerperium

“…A few cases of respiratory symptoms sustained by calcium deposition were reported in literature, often linked to pHPT due to parathyroid adenoma [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], none of which regarded pregnant women. In other reports, MPC was linked to another medical conditions, such as multiple myeloma [ 10 ] and chronic renal failure [ 11 ].…”

“…Only a few reports have described a metastatic pulmonary calcification (MPC) secondary to pHPT [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”