| • External view of a parathyroid adenoma.
• Smooth surface is typical of a benign neoplasm.
• Cannot separate hyperplasia from adenoma on the basis
of gross findings in one gland.
• Parathyroid carcinoma would probably show adhesions reflecting difficulty in dissecting it from adjacent invaded structures. |
| Parathyroid Adenoma |
| Etiology |
• unknown |
| Pathogenesis |
• unknown • secretes unregulated parathormone resulting in elevation of serum calcium
by renal retention, GI absorption and bone mobilization |
| Epidemiology |
• 25/100,000 in
US • 3:1 female predominance • age > 50 |
| Clinical |
• usually detected in asymptomatic patient • rarely see evidence of osteitis fibrosa cystica (due to osteoclast
activity and bone resorption) and renal stones |
| General Gross Description |
• Single • Red-tan • Occasionally can see compressed rim of normal parathyroid |
| General Micro Description |
• Composed of any cell types within parathyroid • No stromal or intracellular fat • May see compressed rim of normal parathyroid • Nuclear atypia and mitoses are NOT indicative of malignancy |
| Reference |
• Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 1144-146
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