PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate clinical characteristics and survival of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter chart review of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma between January 1979 and January 2005. RESULTS: 17 patients (10 women, 7 men) presenting with parathyroid carcinoma underwent surgical resection. Symptoms were largely related to hypercalcemia. Mean postoperative follow-up was seven years. Local recurrence was noted in four patients (24%) and three patients had late distant metastasis (18%). At the end of the study, nine patients were alive without evidence of recurrence (53%) and one patient was alive with recurrence at 5 years. Seven patients had died, four of whom died as a result of their parathyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Even when symptoms and findings are suggestive, the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma is oftentimes difficult. An adequate resection at the first intervention (complete tumor resection including a homolateral thyroid lobectomy and parathyroidectomy with resection of central lymph nodes) is recommended.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate clinical characteristics and survival of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter chart review of patients treated for parathyroid carcinoma between January 1979 and January 2005. RESULTS: 17 patients (10 women, 7 men) presenting with parathyroid carcinoma underwent surgical resection. Symptoms were largely related to hypercalcemia. Mean postoperative follow-up was seven years. Local recurrence was noted in four patients (24%) and three patients had late distant metastasis (18%). At the end of the study, nine patients were alive without evidence of recurrence (53%) and one patient was alive with recurrence at 5 years. Seven patients had died, four of whom died as a result of their parathyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Even when symptoms and findings are suggestive, the diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma is oftentimes difficult. An adequate resection at the first intervention (complete tumor resection including a homolateral thyroid lobectomy and parathyroidectomy with resection of central lymph nodes) is recommended.