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Mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma presenting with severe skeletal manifestations

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Abstract

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for about 1% of primary hyperparathyroidism. We report the case of a 23-year-old man who presented with poorly united mid-shaft fracture of the left femur with severe hypercalcaemia in the setting of 99 mTc sestamibi-avid lesions in the mediastinal and thoracic vertebrae. The patient underwent surgery, and histopathology revealed a low-grade parathyroid carcinoma. After surgery, the patient developed severe hungry bone syndrome requiring intensive calcium, magnesium and active vitamin D supplementation. A review of the literature was undertaken with regards to mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma, management of refractory hypercalcaemia in this setting and hungry bone syndrome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre and School of Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Tuck Y. Yong & Jordan Y. Z. Li

  2. Department of General Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia

    Tuck Y. Yong

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  1. Tuck Y. Yong
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  2. Jordan Y. Z. Li
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Correspondence to Tuck Y. Yong.

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Yong, T.Y., Li, J.Y.Z. Mediastinal parathyroid carcinoma presenting with severe skeletal manifestations. J Bone Miner Metab 28, 591–594 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-010-0173-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00774-010-0173-4

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