Parathyroid Adenoma as a Rare Cause of Persistent Hypercalcemia in a Female with Polycythemia Vera

Abstract

Polycythemia vera is one of the myeloproliferative neoplasms that is distinguished by the uncontrolled production of blood cells and an increased red cell mass due to acquired JAK2 mutation. It has many complications and it might increase the risk of other tumors. However, it does not cause hypercalcemia and is rarely associated with parathyroid adenoma. Here, we report on a 64-year-old female with polycythemia vera found to have hypercalcemia due to parathyroid adenoma.

A Rare Association Between Prostate Cancer and Polycythemia Vera

“…Absolute polycythemia has two kinds: primary and secondary polycythemia [ 6 ]. Usually, secondary polycythemia results from other conditions that raise the formation of erythropoietin and it is commonly linked with solid tumors [ 2 , 3 ], while the primary polycythemia is developed by bone marrow disorders, which mainly cause abnormal erythroid cell line production [ 7 ]. Furthermore, in rare occasions, PV can be familial when one or various MPN affect diverse kinsfolks of the same family [ 8 ].…”

“…Additionally, there is a reported case by Abdalhadi et al which showed an association of PV with a benign tumor, which was a parathyroid adenoma in a woman diagnosed with PV in 2010 who fulfilled the 2008 WHO criteria [ 2 ]. The patient had hypercalcemia, and a neck ultrasound revealed regular-sized thyroid gland with heterogeneous nodules in the left, and cystic nodule in the right lobe, moreover, in the region of both parathyroid glands two hypoechoic nodes were suspected [ 2 ]. The patient was followed by an endocrinologist, who started her on cinacalcet and referred her to the surgical team for parathyroidectomy.…”

“…The patient was followed by an endocrinologist, who started her on cinacalcet and referred her to the surgical team for parathyroidectomy. Her PV was managed with repeated phlebotomies and hydroxyurea [ 2 ].…”

“…One of the subclasses of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is the Polycythemia vera (PV), which is described as the existence of a mutated Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) exon 12 or 14 that cause panmyelosis in the bone marrow and elevated red blood cell production [ 1 , 2 ]. Generally, PV is an uncommon disease with a yearly occurrence of two to three for every 100,000 patients, with an average age of 65 years [ 2 ].…”

“…One of the subclasses of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) is the Polycythemia vera (PV), which is described as the existence of a mutated Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) exon 12 or 14 that cause panmyelosis in the bone marrow and elevated red blood cell production [ 1 , 2 ]. Generally, PV is an uncommon disease with a yearly occurrence of two to three for every 100,000 patients, with an average age of 65 years [ 2 ]. There has been a doubtful link between solid tumors and MPNs; nevertheless, current research has showed that the risk of acquiring solid tumors in MPN patients is twice greater than in the overall population [ 3 ].…”