Abstract
Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism (NCHPT) was recognized as a distinct variant of primary hyperparathyroidism during the Third International Workshop on Asymptomatic Hyperparathyroidism. Normal, albumin-corrected, serum, or ionized calcium levels paired with inappropriately elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels are required to make the diagnosis after secondary causes of hyperparathyroidism are ruled out. The decision to intervene in these patients is often challenging. In asymptomatic patients, close monitoring with annual clinical assessment and biochemical testing is reasonable. When surgery is pursued, a focused parathyroidectomy with the use of intraoperative PTH monitoring can be considered. Critically, a low threshold to convert to a four-gland exploration if strict PTH criteria are not achieved is required.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Khan A, Hanley D, Rizzoli R, Bollerslev J, Young J, Rejnmark L, et al. Primary hyperparathyroidism: review and recommendations on evaluation, diagnosis, and management. A Canadian and international consensus. Osteoporos Int. 2017;28(1):1–19.
Adami S, Marcocci C, Gatti D. Epidemiology of primary hyperparathyroidism in Europe. J Bone Miner Res Off J Am Soc Bone Miner Res. 2002;17:N18–23.
Bilezikian JP, Brandi ML, Eastell R, Silverberg SJ, Udelsman R, Marcocci C, et al. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: summary statement from the Fourth International Workshop. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2014;99(10):3561–9.
Wills MR, Pak CY, Hammond WG, Bartter FC. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Am J Med. 1969;47(3):384–91.
Mather HG. Hyperparathyroidism with normal serum calcium. Br Med J. 1953;2(4833):424.
Siperstein AE, Shen W, Chan AK, Duh Q-Y, Clark OH. Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism: biochemical and symptom profiles before and after surgery. Arch Surg. 1992;127(10):1157–63.
Silverberg SJ, Bilezikian JP. “Incipient” primary hyperparathyroidism: a “forme fruste” of an old disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2003;88(11):5348–52.
Lowe H, McMahon D, Rubin M, Bilezikian J, Silverberg S. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: further characterization of a new clinical phenotype. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2007;92(8):3001–5.
Bilezikian JP, Khan AA, Potts JT Jr. Hyperthyroidism TIWotMoAP. Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: summary statement from the third international workshop. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;94(2):335–9.
Rao DS, Wilson R, Kleerekoper M, Parfitt A. Lack of biochemical progression or continuation of accelerated bone loss in mild asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: evidence for biphasic disease course. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 1988;67(6):1294–8.
Farquharson RF, Salter WT, Tibbetts DM, Aub JC. Studies of calcium and phosphorus metabolism: XII. The effect of the ingestion of acid-producing substances. J Clin Invest. 1931;10(2):221–49.
Maruani G, Hertig A, Paillard M, Houillier P. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: evidence for a generalized target-tissue resistance to parathyroid hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2003;88(10):4641–8.
Eastell R, Brandi ML, Costa AG, D’Amour P, Shoback DM, Thakker RV. Diagnosis of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: proceedings of the Fourth International Workshop. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2014;99(10):3570–9.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2015–2020 dietary guidelines for Americans. 8th Edition. Dec 2015. Available at https://health.gov/our-work/food-and-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/.
Ross AC TC, Yaktine AL, et al., editors. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium; Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US). Dietary reference intakes for adequacy: calcium and vitamin D. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56056/. 5. 2011.
Cusano NE, Silverberg SJ, Bilezikian JP. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Densitom. 2013;16(1):33–9.
Eller-Vainicher C, Cairoli E, Zhukouskaya VV, Morelli V, Palmieri S, Scillitani A, et al. Prevalence of subclinical contributors to low bone mineral density and/or fragility fracture. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;169(2):225–37.
Martinez I, Saracho R, Montenegro J, Llach F. The importance of dietary calcium and phosphorous in the secondary hyperparathyroidism of patients with early renal failure. Am J Kidney Dis. 1997;29(4):496–502.
Group KDIGOC-MW. KDIGO clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, prevention, and treatment of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Kidney Int Suppl. 2009;113:S1.
Coe FL, Canterbury JM, Firpo JJ, Reiss E. Evidence for secondary hyperparathyroidism in idiopathic hypercalciuria. J Clin Invest. 1973;52(1):134–42.
Broadus AE, DOMINGUEZ M, BARTTER FC. Pathophysiological studies in idiopathic hypercalciuria: use of an oral calcium tolerance test to characterize distinctive hypercalciuric subgroups. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 1978;47(4):751–60.
Palmieri S, Eller-Vainicher C, Cairoli E, Morelli V, Zhukouskaya VV, Verga U, et al. Hypercalciuria may persist after successful parathyroid surgery and it is associated with parathyroid hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2015;100(7):2734–42.
Worcester EM, Coe FL. New insights into the pathogenesis of idiopathic hypercalciuria. InSeminars in nephrology 2008;28(2):120–132. WB Saunders.
Pierreux J, Bravenboer B, Velkeniers B, Unuane D, Andreescu CE, Vanhoeij M. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: a comparison with the hypercalcemic form in a tertiary referral population. Horm Metab Res. 2018;50(11):797–802.
Rejnmark L, Vestergaard P, Heickendorff L, Andreasen F, Mosekilde L. Effects of long-term treatment with loop diuretics on bone mineral density, calcitropic hormones and bone turnover. J Intern Med. 2005;257(2):176–84.
Haden ST, Stoll AL, McCormick S, Scott J, El-Hajj FG. Alterations in parathyroid dynamics in lithium-treated subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 1997;82(9):2844–8.
Chesnut CH 3rd, McClung MR, Ensrud KE, Bell NH, Genant HK, Harris ST, et al. Alendronate treatment of the postmenopausal osteoporotic woman: effect of multiple dosages on bone mass and bone remodeling. Am J Med. 1995;99:144–52.
Cusano NE, Cipriani C, Bilezikian JP. Management of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;32(6):837–45.
Wei JH, Lee WJ, Chong K, Lee YC, Chen SC, Huang PH, et al. High incidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism in bariatric patients: comparing different procedures. Obes Surg. 2018;28(3):798–804.
Rosário PW, Calsolari MR. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism in adults without a history of nephrolithiasis or fractures: a prospective study. Horm Metab Res. 2019;51(04):243–7.
Cusano NE, Maalouf NM, Wang PY, Zhang C, Cremers SC, Haney EM, et al. Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism in two community-based nonreferral populations. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2013;98(7):2734–41.
Bilezikian JP, Silverberg SJ. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol. 2010;54(2):106–9.
Ozturk FY, Erol S, Canat MM, Karatas S, Kuzu I, Cakir SD, et al. Patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism may have similar metabolic profile as hypercalcemic patients. Endocr J. 2015;62:EJ15–0392.
Mosekilde L. Primary hyperparathyroidism and the skeleton. Clin Endocrinol. 2008;69(1):1–19.
Tordjman KM, Greenman Y, Osher E, Shenkerman G, Stern N. Characterization of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Am J Med. 2004;117(11):861–3.
Wade TJ, Yen TW, Amin AL, Wang TS. Surgical management of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. World J Surg. 2012;36(4):761–6.
García-Martín A, Reyes-García R, Muñoz-Torres M. Normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: one-year follow-up in one hundred postmenopausal women. Endocrine. 2012;42(3):764–6.
Díaz-Soto G, Romero E, Castrillon J, Jauregui O, de Luis Román D. Clinical expression of calcium sensing receptor polymorphism (A986S) in normocalcemic and asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism. Horm Metab Res. 2016;48(03):163–8.
Brardi S, Cevenini G, Verdacchi T, Romano G, Ponchietti R. Use of cinacalcet in nephrolithiasis associated with normocalcemic or hypercalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism: results of a prospective randomized pilot study. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia. 2015;87(1):66–71.
Rubin MR, Maurer MS, McMahon DJ, Bilezikian JP, Silverberg SJ. Arterial stiffness in mild primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2005;90(6):3326–30.
Tordjman KM, Yaron M, Izkhakov E, Osher E, Shenkerman G, Marcus-Perlman Y, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors and arterial rigidity are similar in asymptomatic normocalcemic and hypercalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Eur J Endocrinol. 2010;162(5):925.
Chen G, Xue Y, Zhang Q, Xue T, Yao J, Huang H, et al. Is normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism harmful or harmless? J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2015;100(6):2420–4.
Tuna MM, Çalışkan M, Ünal M, Demirci T, Doğan BA, Küçükler K, et al. Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism is associated with complications similar to those of hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism. J Bone Miner Metab. 2016;34(3):331–5.
Hagstrom E, Lundgren E, Rastad J, Hellman P. Metabolic abnormalities in patients with normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism detected at a population-based screening. Eur J Endocrinol. 2006;155(1):33–9.
Pasieka JL, Parsons LL, Demeure MJ, Wilson S, Malycha P, Jones J, et al. Patient-based surgical outcome tool demonstrating alleviation of symptoms following parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. World J Surg. 2002;26(8):942–9.
Bargren AE, Repplinger D, Chen H, Sippel RS. Can biochemical abnormalities predict symptomatology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism? J Am Coll Surg. 2011;213(3):410–4.
Murray SE, Pathak PR, Pontes DS, Schneider DF, Schaefer SC, Chen H, et al. Timing of symptom improvement after parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. Surgery. 2013;154(6):1463–9.
Ospina NS, Maraka S, Rodriguez-Gutierrez R, de Ycaza AE, Jasim S, Gionfriddo M, et al. Comparative efficacy of parathyroidectomy and active surveillance in patients with mild primary hyperparathyroidism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2016;27(12):3395–407.
Ambrogini E, Cetani F, Cianferotti L, Vignali E, Banti C, Viccica G, et al. Surgery or surveillance for mild asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism: a prospective, randomized clinical trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2007;92(8):3114–21.
McDow AD, Sippel RS. Should symptoms be considered an indication for parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism? Clin Med Insights Endocrinol Diabetes. 2018;11:1179551418785135.
Bannani S, Christou N, Guerin C, Hamy A, Sebag F, Mathonnet M, et al. Effect of parathyroidectomy on quality of life and non-specific symptoms in normocalcaemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Br J Surg. 2018;105(3):223–9.
Šiprová H, Fryšák Z, Souček M. Primary hyperparathyroidism, with a focus on management of the normocalcemic form: to treat or not to treat? Endocr Pract. 2016;22(3):294–301.
Cesareo R, Di Stasio E, Vescini F, Campagna G, Cianni R, Pasqualini V, et al. Effects of alendronate and vitamin D in patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. Osteoporos Int. 2015;26(4):1295–302.
Haber RS, Kim CK, Inabnet WB. Ultrasonography for preoperative localization of enlarged parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism: comparison with 99mtechnetium sestamibi scintigraphy. Clin Endocrinol. 2002;57(2):241–9.
Lavely WC, Goetze S, Friedman KP, Leal JP, Zhang Z, Garret-Mayer E, et al. Comparison of SPECT/CT, SPECT, and planar imaging with single-and dual-phase 99mTc-sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy. J Nucl Med. 2007;48(7):1084–9.
Rodgers SE, Hunter GJ, Hamberg LM, Schellingerhout D, Doherty DB, Ayers GD, et al. Improved preoperative planning for directed parathyroidectomy with 4-dimensional computed tomography. Surgery. 2006;140(6):932–41.
Starker LF, Mahajan A, Björklund P, Sze G, Udelsman R, Carling T. 4D parathyroid CT as the initial localization study for patients with de novo primary hyperparathyroidism. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011;18(6):1723–8.
Cunha-Bezerra P, Vieira R, Amaral F, Cartaxo H, Lima T, Montarroyos U, et al. Better performance of four-dimension computed tomography as a localization procedure in normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2018;62(4):493–8.
Noureldine SI, Aygun N, Walden MJ, Hassoon A, Gujar SK, Tufano RP. Multiphase computed tomography for localization of parathyroid disease in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: how many phases do we really need? Surgery. 2014;156(6):1300–7.
Gawande AA, Monchik JM, Abbruzzese TA, Iannuccilli JD, Ibrahim SI, Moore FD. Reassessment of parathyroid hormone monitoring during parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism after 2 preoperative localization studies. Arch Surg. 2006;141(4):381–4.
Traini E, Bellantone R, Tempera SE, Russo S, De Crea C, Lombardi CP, et al. Is parathyroidectomy safe and effective in patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism? Langenbeck’s Arch Surg. 2018;403(3):317–23.
Trinh G, Rettig E, Noureldine SI, Russell JO, Agrawal N, Mathur A, et al. Surgical management of normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism and the impact of intraoperative parathyroid hormone testing on outcome. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2018;159(4):630–7.
Sho S, Kuo EJ, Chen AC, Li N, Yeh MW, Livhits MJ. Biochemical and skeletal outcomes of parathyroidectomy for normocalcemic (incipient) primary hyperparathyroidism. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019;26(2):539–46.
Kiriakopoulos A, Petralias A, Linos D. Classic primary hyperparathyroidism versus normocalcemic and normohormonal variants: do they really differ? World J Surg. 2018;42(4):992–7.
Siperstein A, Berber E, Barbosa GF, Tsinberg M, Greene AB, Mitchell J, et al. Predicting the success of limited exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism using ultrasound, sestamibi, and intraoperative parathyroid hormone: analysis of 1158 cases. Ann Surg. 2008;248(3):420–8.
Udelsman R, Lin Z, Donovan P. The superiority of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy based on 1650 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ann Surg. 2011;253(3):585–91.
Schneider DF, Mazeh H, Sippel RS, Chen H. Is minimally invasive parathyroidectomy associated with greater recurrence compared to bilateral exploration? Analysis of more than 1,000 cases. Surgery. 2012;152(6):1008–15.
Lavryk OA, Siperstein AE. Pattern of calcium and parathyroid hormone normalization at 12-months follow-up after parathyroid operation. Surgery. 2017;161(4):1139–48.
Pandian T, Lubitz CC, Bird SH, Kuo LE, Stephen AE. Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism: a collaborative endocrine surgery quality improvement program analysis. Surgery. 2020;167(1):168–72.
Koumakis E, Souberbielle J-C, Sarfati E, Meunier M, Maury E, Gallimard E, et al. Bone mineral density evolution after successful parathyroidectomy in patients with normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2013;98(8):3213–20.
Wilhelm SM, Wang TS, Ruan DT, Lee JA, Asa SL, Duh Q-Y, et al. The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons guidelines for definitive management of primary hyperparathyroidism. JAMA Surg. 2016;151(10):959–68.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ranganath, R., Moseley, K.F., Tufano, R.P. (2021). Subtle Variants of Hyperparathyroidism: Normocalcemic Hyperparathyroidism. In: Singer, M.C., Terris, D.J. (eds) Innovations in Modern Endocrine Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73951-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73951-5_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-73950-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-73951-5
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)