Abstract Introduction Primary hyperparathyroidism is most frequently caused by a parathyroid adenoma, occasionally by parathyroid hyperplasia, rarely by atypical parathyroid adenoma and parathyroid carcinoma. Here, we present a case diagnosed as PHPT pathology revealed atypical parathyroid adenoma. Clinical Case A 49-year-old male patient was referred to our endocrinology clinic because of hypercalcemia identified for the investigation of nephrolithiasis. The patient reported no hypercalcemia-related symptoms. His physical checkup was unremarkable. The results of the laboratory investigations were as follows: calcium 10.9 mg/dL (8.8–10.6), albumin 4.2 g/dL (3.5–5.2), phosphorus 2.15 mg/dL (2.5–4.5), 25-OH vitamin D 13 μg/L, PTH 142 ng/L (15–65), creatinine 0.59 mg/dL (0–1.2), and 24-hour urine calcium 647.4 mg/day (0–300). Neck ultrasonography revealed two hypoechoic nodules, the biggest measuring 13.5 x 9 mm in the right thyroid lobe. Parathyroid scintigraphy revealed no typical signs consistent with a parathyroid adenoma in the neck or mediastinum. Four-dimensional computed tomography of the neck revealed an 8 mm, well-circumscribed, bilobed lesion in the posterior-inferior region of the right thyroid lobe, that did not augment with intravenous contrast and was regarded as an exophytic thyroid nodule. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy was done and the results were reported as follicular lesions of uncertain significance. A PTH washout test was performed on the same nodule, resulting in a value of almost 5000 ng/L. A choline PET/CT scan revealed a 13 mm soft tissue lesion with enhanced radiotracer uptake (SUV max: 5.39) posterior to the lower pole of the right thyroid lobe, indicating a parathyroid adenoma. The patient underwent a right thyroid lobectomy and the right inferior pole parathyroid adenoma was excised. The surgical specimen's histopathological investigation revealed neoplastic parathyroid tissue with lack of reticulin architecture and fibrotic bands, abnormal lack of parafibromin staining indicating an atypical parathyroid adenoma. The postoperative calcium level was 9.7 mg/dL, the phosphorus level was 2.8 mg/dL, and the PTH level was 65.2 ng/L. Conclusion Atypical parathyroid adenoma is very rare and hard to diagnose. Its prognosis is unclear, so regular surveillance is crucial. The patient is closely monitored for recurrence.
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