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Case Reports: Novel treatment (new drug/interventions; established drug/procedure in new situation)
Parathyroid carcinoma presenting as severe hypercalcaemia responding to steroids
  1. Susan Vincy Mathew1,
  2. Tracey Ellis2 and
  3. Edward B Jude3,4
  1. 1Diabetes and Endocrinology, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
  2. 2ENT, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Ashton-under-Lyne, UK
  3. 3Diabetes and Endocrinology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
  4. 4Diabetes and Endocrinology, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Tameside, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Edward B Jude; edward.jude{at}tgh.nhs.uk

Abstract

A man in his 50s was referred with profound, symptomatic hypercalcaemia. He was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism, confirmed on 99mTc-sestamibi scan. He was treated for the hypercalcaemia and referred to ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons for parathyroidectomy, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the ensuing 18 months, he had five hospital admissions with severe hypercalcaemia requiring intravenous fluids and bisphosphonate infusions. During the last admission, hypercalcaemia was resistant to maximal medical management. Emergency parathyroidectomy was planned, but delayed due to intervening COVID-19 infection. Due to persistent severe hypercalcaemia (serum calcium: 4.23 mmol/L), he was commenced on intravenous steroids, following which serum calcium normalised. Subsequently, he underwent emergency parathyroidectomy, which normalised his serum parathyroid and calcium levels. On histopathological examination, a diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma was made. On follow-up, patient remained well and normocalcaemic. In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism unresponsive to standard therapy, but responsive to steroids, underlying parathyroid malignancy should be considered.

  • COVID-19
  • Endocrine system
  • Calcium and bone
  • Endocrine cancer

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-252120

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors SVM authored the case report which was edited by EBJ. EBJ was the consultant in charge of the patient’s care and SVM was part of the treating team. TE was the surgeon who performed the parathyroidectomy. SVM, EBJ and TE approved the final manuscript.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.