Parathyroid cancer presenting with Brown tumours mimicking bone metastasis

Mercy GEORGE and Alice Moi Ling YONG.

Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam

ABSTRACT

Bone metastasis is the most common diagnosis considered for lytic lesions in the bone. Parathyroid cancer presenting as overt bone disease with diffuse lytic lesions secondary to untreated hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a rare entity nowadays. We report the case of a 50-year-old Chinese lady who presented with diffuse bone lesions consistent with Brown tumours, vertebral body collapse and hypercalcaemia mimicking bone metastasis and was later diagnosed with parathyroid cancer.

Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, Brown tumour, hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid neoplasm

Correspondence author: Mercy GEORGE, Department of Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan BA 1710, Brunei Darussalam.

Tel: +673 2242424 Ext 6230, Fax: +673 2242690

E mail: mercygeorges@hotmail.com

Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (3): 149-153