Parathyroid adenoma in a patient with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Oct 15:2014:bcr2014206473. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-206473.

Abstract

A 57-year-old man with symptoms of fatigue, joint pains and insomnia was found to have hypercalcaemia secondary to hyperparathyroidism with a corrected calcium of 2.61 mmol/L (2.2-2.6 mmol/L) and a serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) of 86 pg/mL (10-65 pg/mL). Preoperative workup demonstrated a parathyroid adenoma in the right upper position and he proceeded to surgery. Postoperatively, however, his symptoms remained unchanged and the corrected calcium remained elevated at 2.87 mmol/L with a PTH of 59 pg/mL. He had no family history of hypercalcaemia. Further investigations revealed low 24 h urinary calcium level and a low urine calcium to creatinine ratio. Genetic testing revealed a mutation in exon 4 of the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) confirming a diagnosis of familial hypocalciuric hyercalcaemia (FHH). The case is an example of a rare phenomenon when a parathyroid adenoma develops in patients with FHH.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / complications*
  • Exons / genetics
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / complications
  • Hypercalcemia / congenital*
  • Hypercalcemia / genetics
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / complications*
  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Calcium-Sensing

Supplementary concepts

  • Hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, familial, type 1