Functional mediastinal parathyroid cyst. Dynamics of parathyroid hormone secretion during cyst aspirations and surgery.

A patient presented with a large neck mass, hypercalcemia, and elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels. Aspiration of the cystic mass yielded 100 ml of fluid that contained a low concentration of thyroxine, but large amounts of parathyroid hormone, as measured by bioassay or with three different radioimmunoassays. After each of four aspirations, the serum calcium level declined significantly. Serial measurements showed that serum amino-terminal and mid-region parathyroid hormone levels and urinary cyclic adenosine monophosphate values declined after aspiration. Surgical resection of the cervical-mediastinal cyst restored normal serum calcium and parathyroid hormone levels, and these have been maintained for nine months. Calculations suggest that parathyroid hormone traversing the cyst lumen might contribute significantly to the excess circulating parathyroid hormone.