PARATHYROID CARCINOMA - REPORT OF 3 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare endocrine malignancy characterized by the exaggerated metabolic effects of the parathyroid glands, The preop erative differential diagnosis between parathyroid carcinoma and prima ry hyperparathyroidism is often difficult because many of the signs an d symptoms are very similar, Intraoperative differentiation is obscure d by the strict anatomic and histologic criteria required for diagnosi s of parathyroid carcinoma. We have encountered three patients with pa rathyroid carcinoma during the last 10 years and managed them successf ully, Two of them presented with recurrence of hypercalcemia, one 11 y ears after and the other 3 years after the primary operation for hyper parathyroidism; both patients were eventually diagnosed with parathyro id carcinoma, The third case was suspected as primary hyperparathyroid ism preoperatively but confirmed as carcinoma subsequent to histologic examination.