1/157. lithium therapy, hypercalcemia, and hyperparathyroidism.lithium is a monovalent cation that influences calcium metabolism in various tissues including the brain, kidney, heart, and parathyroid gland. Mr. A received treatment with lithium for 19 years because this medication proved to be effective in the management of his bipolar illness. However, he developed hypercalcemia, hypertension, and episodes of severe bradyarrhythmia (one of them requiring admission to the medical intensive care unit), with lithium levels within the therapeutic range. An extended endocrine workup showed hyperparathyroidism, with elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels, hypercalcemia, hypocalciuria, and normal serum phosphate levels. These biochemical findings are different from those of primary hyperparathyroidism and are attributed to direct actions of the lithium in the kidney. Discontinuation of the lithium did not result in reversal of the abnormal findings. The patient had surgery, and hyperplasia of the parathyroid gland was found. After parathyroidectomy, the bradyarrhythmia subsided and the patient showed improvement both in his psychiatric condition and hypertension. Preliminary observations in nine other lithium-induced hypercalcemic patients show a high frequency of arrhythmias with bradycardia and conduction defects. These findings suggest that hypercalcemia with lithium increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmia and emphasize the need for regular laboratory and electrocardiographic monitoring of patients on maintenance lithium therapy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/157. Severe hyperparathyroidism with hypercalcemia associated with chronic renal failure at pre-dialysis stage.We report a case of a 23-year-old Japanese woman who had severe hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic renal failure before the start of dialysis treatment. Her chief complaints were swelling and pain in both shoulders. Laboratory examination revealed renal failure (BUN 134 mg/dl, serum Cr 7.3 mg/dl), severe normocytic normochromic anemia (hemoglobin 4.3 g/dl), hypercalcemia (11.8 mg/dl), and hyperphosphatemia (9.7 mg/dl). serum PTH levels were extremely increased (intact PTH >1,000 pg/ml: normal range 10-50 pg/ml). X-ray examination of the skull and shoulders showed a salt and pepper appearance, and cauliflower-like deformity of the distal end of both clavicles, respectively. Accelerated ectopic calcification was observed in the costal cartilages, internal carotid arteries, and splenic arteries. Ultrasonographic examination revealed enlargement of the four parathyroid glands. thallium-technetium subtraction scintigraphy of the parathyroid glands showed increased uptake into the upper two. Renal needle biopsy revealed severe impairment of the interstitium and tubules with much milder changes in glomeruli. The etiology of the renal failure could not be identified. Hemodialysis, total parathyroidectomy and auto-transplantation into the forearm were immediately performed. The pathological diagnosis was chief cell hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. Based on the presence of chronic renal failure, remarkable hyperphosphatemia with mild hypercalcemia, an unusually high level of serum PTH, and accelerated ectopic calcification, the patient was diagnosed to have severe secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic renal failure with major impairment of the renal interstitium and tubules.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/157. Co-existence of osteogenesis imperfecta and hyperparathyroidism.osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and hyperparathyroidism (HTP) are disorders affecting the skeletal system and calcium metabolism not evidently related to one another. We report a case in which both OI and HPT were present. Our female patient presented with hypercalcaemia (S-Ca2 1.59 mmol/l; normal range 1.15-1.30) and 4-gland parathyroid hyperplasia at 30 years of age. Since her first year she had fractures, blue sclera, hypermobile joints, short stature (height 1.51 m, weight 49.5 kg) but normal hearing, and dentiogenesis imperfecta (tooth disease caused by defective formation of dentin) was absent. This patient bears many similarities with the 5 patients reported previously but it is the only patient, to our knowledge, with OI and early onset of HPT (30 year old female). We have found the OI to be type 1. A minor improvement of the rate of bone turnover 10 months after parathyroidectomy indicates the HPT to be primary and suggests the OI type 1 and pHPT to be two different calcium metabolic diseases incidentally occurring in the same patient.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/157. Coincidence of hot thyroid nodules and primary hyperparathyroidism.hyperthyroidism is frequently associated with hypercalcemia, which usually subsides after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism. Moreover, thyroid nodules are frequently detected by preoperative thyroid ultrasound in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Sensitised by the observation of a patient with coexisting hyperthyroidism and hyperparathyroidism we prospectively evaluated thyroid nodules in euthyroid patients with hyperparathyroidism by thyroid scintigraphy. Whereas the first patient with hyperparathyroidism was hyperthyroid the subsequent four patients with hyperparathyroidism and thyroid nodules had normal fT3 and fT4. Two patients had hypercalcemia and nephroureterolithiasis. Three patients suffered from hypercalcemia and bone pain due to osteoporosis. In the hyperthyroid patient hypercalcemia persisted after euthyroidism was achieved intact parathyroid hormone was found to be elevated. Subsequently, thyroid nodules, detected by preoperative ultrasound in four euthyroid patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, were identified as compensated hot nodules by thyroid scintigraphy. All patients underwent combined subtotal thyroidectomy and parathyroid resection. histology showed hyperplastic parathyroid glands in one patient and a single parathyroid adenoma in four cases. Postoperatively calcium and PTH levels returned to normal and TSH levels increased in all patients. Persistence of hypercalcemia after successful treatment of hyperthyroidism should be reason for the determination of parathyroid hormone. Thyroid nodules detected by preoperative ultrasound in patients with hyperparathyroidism living in areas of iodine deficiency should be further evaluated by scintigraphy even if TSH is normal. In the case of hot thyroid nodules both parathyroid and partial thyroid resection should be performed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/157. Hypercalcaemia secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma.Many syndromes reflecting impaired metabolism have been described in association with primary neoplastic diseases. Hypercalcaemia secondary to malignancy without bone metastases and with normal parathyroid glands has been described as "pseudohyperparathyroidism". Differentiation from primary hyperparathyroidism is difficult and care should be taken to exclude an occult malignancy prior to surgical exploration for a parathyroid adenoma. Hypercalcaemia associated with hepatocellular carcinoma is not uncommon. Nevertheless, we describe a rare case of coma with persistent hypercalcaemia in a cirrhotic patient not previously known to have hepatocellular carcinoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/157. What is tertiary hyperparathyroidism?Five patients who had gross abnormalities of calcium and phosphorus metabolism due to long standing renal failure are described to illustrate the difficulties with the term "tertiary hyperparathyroidism". One patient who had unequivocal biochemical tertiary hyperparathyroidism was found histologically to have nodular hyperplasia of all four glands even though one gland weighed twice as much (12g) as the combined weight of the other three. Another patient was not hypercalcaemic but had all the other features of the condition including rapid onset of osteitis fibrosa, vascular calcification and a probable parathyroid adenoma, with hyperplasia of the three glands. The other three had hypercalcaemia only after a reduction in the plasma inorganic phosphorus due either to renal transplantation or aluminum hydroxide therapy. The bone histology of the five patients varied from severe osteomalacia to severe osteitis fibrosa. A consideration of the factors involved in causing hypercalcaemia in these patients and a review of the literature leads to the conclusion that the term tertiary hyperparathyroidism is often misleading and best avoided.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/157. Primary neonatal hyperparathyroidism. Report of a case and review of the literature.The seventh case in the world literature of primary hyperparathyroidism in a neonate is reported. This is the fifth case in which an autopsy was performed. The clinical and anatomic findings in all seven cases are reviewed and compared. Neonates with primary hyperparathyroidism show diffuse hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. The bones show disturbed osteogenesis, bone resorption, and widespread fibrosis of the marrow cavities. Bony cysts are not appreciated. Pathologic fractures are common. Marked hypercalciuria or hyperphosphaturia is usually not observed, perhaps because the immature renal tubules fail to respond to the influence of excess parathormone. Aminoaciduria and anemia are commonly observed. The prognosis is grave, and the etiology of this syndrome remains unexplained.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/157. Documented hyperparathyroidism of thirty-six years' duration.The fascinating history of the first Memorial Hospital patient who was diagnosed as having hyperparathyroidism is reviewed. The illness presented as a cystic mass in a femur in 1929, which was treated with radiation. When the patient was first seen at Memorial Hospital in 1931, the diagnosis of osteitis fibrosa cystica was made; serum calcium was 14 mg/100 ml. In 1932, 6 years after Mandl performed the first parathyroidectomy ever for osteitis fibrosa cystica, this patient's neck was explored, and a right hemithyroidectomy was done, with removal of two normal parathyroid glands. The parathyroid tumor was finally located and partially removed in 1937 after a second failure at neck exploration in 1936. Correspondence between Dr. Edward D. Churchill at the massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Bradley Coley at Memorial Hospital indicated the concern at that time about uncontrollable tetany, which had been fatal in some contemporary cases and which had led to the practice of only partially removing the tumor. Following this, the patient was observed with documented hypercalcemia and chemical evidence of hyperparathyrodism until age 79. The physical and chemical abnormalities over the years up to and including her last exam are presented. The case is important not only from the historical viewpoint, but because it lends a perspective to long-term parathyroid disease, which is becoming less appreciated in this day of the routine serum calcium by SMA-12 screening. The question of partial parathyroidectomy for adenoma or hyperplasia is reviewed, and the question of observation of patients with mild hypercalcemia who probably have parathyroid tumors is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/157. Unusual presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism with osteoporosis, hypercalcemia, and normal parathyroid hormone level.We report the case of a woman with osteoporosis, chronic hypercalcemia, and normal levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Surgical exploration revealed hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. hypercalcemia was corrected immediately by surgery, and this was followed by a dramatic improvement in bone mineral density. This case represents a rarely reported presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism with an atypical laboratory finding.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/157. Familial isolated parathyroid adenoma in a consanguineous family.The 23-year-old Caucasian male propositus presented with symptomatic hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and normocalciuria for 2 months. His 29-year-old brother had undergone an operation for recurrent parathyroid adenoma at age 26 and 28. No other member of the family was affected. His father and mother were second-degree relatives. Laboratory studies showed primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT), while the remaining endocrine studies and genetic testing for multiple endocrine neoplasia 1 and 2A were normal. technetium-cardiolite scintigraphy and ultrasound scans revealed a parathyroid mass at the left lower neck. Apart from bilateral hearing loss due to gentamicin treatment as a pre-term child, the patient was in of good health. Signs or symptoms of other endocrinopathies were absent. The patient was referred for parathyroidectomy with subsequent autotransplantation of the remaining glands into his sternocleidomastoid muscle. Histological examination revealed an adenoma with oncocytic differentiation, similar to that seen in his brother. The disease may follow a recessive mode of inheritance or may be due to a dominant germ-cell mutation in one of the parents. The presented case may ultimately help in elucidating the molecular genetic basis of this rare form of pHPT.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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