Abstract

A 46-year-old woman presented with hypertension and renal disease. Investigations showed severe hypercalcaemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism. Imaging demonstrated renal calculi and an incidental left adrenal lesion. Additional biochemistry confirmed adrenocorticotropic hormone-independent hypercortisolism. Ultrasound and sestamibi scan found an enlarged right-sided parathyroid gland and a suspicious right thyroid nodule, biopsy of which suggested papillary carcinoma. The right parathyroid mass, right thyroid lobe and right central compartment tissue along with a segment of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve was resected en-bloc. Completion thyroidectomy and left adrenalectomy were performed 6 months later. Histology showed parathyroid cancer, multifocal papillary thyroid cancer and adrenal clear cell cortical adenoma. Genetic tests were normal. There was no evidence of recurrence at 12 months follow-up. Parathyroid cancer should be suspected in the presence of significant hypercalcaemia, very high parathyroid hormone and end organ damage. Suspicious thyroid nodules on imaging should be appropriately investigated.