Primary Hyperparathyroidism Caused by a Giant Parathyroid Adenoma: A case report

ABSTRACT

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a relatively rare disease entity in Korea. It is characterized by severe skeletal and renal changes due to hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone and rarely shows peptic ulceration, hypertension, pancreatitis and impaired mentality. Primary hyperparathyroidism is most commonly caused by an adenoma, or hyperplasia and rarely by cancer of the parathyroid gland. The authors experienced a case involving a giant parathyroid adenoma in a 62-year-old female. The main symptoms were general weakness, anorexia, and constipation. We detected the giant parathyroid adenoma on the anterior neck by using preoperative localization methods, such as ultrasonography, and a thallium-technetium subtraction scan. A parathyroidectomy was carried out, and the parathyroid adenoma measured 5.0 cm 3.2 cm in size and 12 gm in weight. Clinical laboratory reports and symptoms were normalized with no sequelae. We report this case with a review of the literature related to sizes and weights of adenomas.