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Acute pancreatitis caused by an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma

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Abstract

A 22-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of epigastric pain. Blood tests showed leukocytosis (8940 cells/mm3) and increased serum amylase levels (787 IU/L); an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an enlarged pancreas and peripancreatic fluid collection. On the basis of these findings, he was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Hypercalcemia (13.5 mg/dL) and increased levels of parathormone (>3200 pg/dL) were also detected using a high-sensitivity assay; we therefore considered hypercalcemia and primary hyperparathyroidism to be the possible causes of the acute pancreatitis. A 99mTc-sestamibi scan showed accumulation of parathyroid tissue in the left mediastinum, and a tumor was noted on the left side of the aortic arch on a thoracic CT scan. Our final diagnosis was acute pancreatitis due to hypercalcemia induced by an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Ectopic parathyroid tumors can thus cause acute pancreatitis, and 99mTc-sestamibi and CT scans are useful for their diagnosis and localization.

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We have no funding and no conflict of interest for this report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, 2-1-1, Nagamine Minami, Kumamoto, 861-8520, Japan

    Takahiro Urata, Akira Yamasaki, Akiko Sasaki, Ginga Tonaki, Hajime Iwasaki, Nobuhiro Minami, Rituko Yoshioka, Hideki Kitada & Yoshi Takekuma

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  1. Takahiro Urata
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  2. Akira Yamasaki
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  3. Akiko Sasaki
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  4. Ginga Tonaki
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  5. Hajime Iwasaki
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  6. Nobuhiro Minami
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  7. Rituko Yoshioka
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  8. Hideki Kitada
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  9. Yoshi Takekuma
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Correspondence to Takahiro Urata.

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Urata, T., Yamasaki, A., Sasaki, A. et al. Acute pancreatitis caused by an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Clin J Gastroenterol 5, 393–397 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-012-0338-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-012-0338-x

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