Pediatric Neuroendocrine Neoplasia of the Parathyroid Glands: Delving into Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Our objective was to overview the most recent data on primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) in children and teenagers from a multidisciplinary perspective. Methods: narrative review based on full-length, English-language papers (from PubMed, between January 2020 and July 2023). Results: 48 papers (14 studies of ≥10 subjects/study, and 34 case reports/series of <10 patients/study). Study-sample-based analysis: except for one case–control study, all of the studies were retrospective, representing both multicenter (n = 5) and single-center (n = 7) studies, and cohort sizes varied from small (N = 10 to 19), to medium-sized (N = 23 to 36) and large (N = 63 to 83); in total, the reviewed studies covered 493 individuals with PHP. Case reports/series (n = 34, N = 41): the mean ages studied varied from 10.2 to 14 years in case reports, and the mean age was 17 years in case series. No clear female predominance was identified, unlike that observed in the adult population. Concerning the assessments, there were four major types of endpoints: imaging data collection, such as ultrasound, 99mTc Sestamibi, or dual-phase computed tomography (CT); gene testing/familial syndrome identification; preoperative findings; and exposure to surgical outcome/preoperative drugs, like cinacalcet, over a 2.2-year median (plus two case reports of denosumab used as an off-label calcium-lowering agent). Single-gland cases (representing 85% of sporadic cases and 19% of genetic PHP cases) showed 100% sensitivity for neck ultrasounds, with 98% concordance with 99mTc Sestamibi, as well as a 91% sensitivity for dual-phase CT, with 25% of the lesions being ectopic parathyroids (mostly mediastinal intra-thymic). Case reports included another 9/41 patients with ectopic parathyroid adenomas, 3/41 with parathyroid carcinomas, and 8/41 subjects with brown tumors. Genetic PHP (which has a prevalence of 5–26.9%) mostly involved MEN1, followed by CDC73, CASR, RET, and CDKN1B, as well as one case of VHL. Symptomatic PHP: 70–100% of all cases. Asymptomatic PHP: 60% of genetic PHP cases. Renal involvement: 10.5% of a cohort with genetic PHP, 71% of sporadic PHP cases; 50% (in a cohort with a mean age of 16.7), 29% (in a cohort with a mean age of 15.2); 0% (in infancy) to 50–62% (in teenagers). Bone anomalies: 83% of the children in one study and 62% of those in two other studies. Gastrointestinal issues: 40% of one cohort, but the data are heterogeneous. Cure rate through parathyroidectomy: 97–98%. Recurrent PHP: 2% of sporadic PHP cases and 38% of familial PHP cases. Hungry bone syndrome: maximum rate of 34–40%. Case reports identified another 7/41 subjects with the same post-parathyroidectomy condition; a potential connection with ectopic presentation or brown tumors is suggested, but there are limited data. Minimally invasive thoracoscopic approaches for ectopic tumors seemed safe. The current level of statistical evidence on pediatric PHP qualifies our study- and case-sample-based analysis (n = 48, N = 534) as one of the largest of its kind. Awareness of PHP is the key factor to benefit our young patients.