Skip to main content
Erschienen in: BMC Endocrine Disorders 1/2017

Open Access 01.12.2017 | Case report

Primary hyperparathyroidism caused by enormous unilateral water-clear cell parathyroid hyperplasia

verfasst von: Georgios Boutzios, Helen Sarlanis, Anna Kolindou, Antigoni Velidaki, Theodore Karatzas

Erschienen in: BMC Endocrine Disorders | Ausgabe 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Parathyroid water-clear cell hyperplasia (WCCH) and water-clear cell adenoma (WCCA) are rare causes of primary hyperparathyroidism. The frequency of WCCH seems to be less than 1% of all primary hyperplasia.

Case presentation

We report a 53-year-old woman with a large unilateral water clear cell parathyroid hyperplasia associated with primary hyperparathyroidism and severe osteoporosis. Ultrasonography showed a 5.4 cm multilobulated hypoechoic well defined mass localized in the lower half of the left thyroid lobe. Technetium sestamibi scanning showed a persistent very large area of increased activity possibly corresponding to a left inferior double parathyroid adenoma. At surgery, two large merged lobulated parathyroid glands were removed from the left superior and inferior aspects of the adjacent thyroid extending to the sub-clavicular area. Histopathology showed polygonal hyperplastic vacuolated cells with abundant water clear cytoplasm. The lesion had lack of capsule or rim of parathyroid tissue and immunohistochemistry was positive for PTH staining. These findings were consistent with diffused water clear cell hyperplasia. After parathyroidectomy, iPTH and calcium levels dropped immediately.

Conclusion

The clinical presentation of the patients with water clear cells parathyroid content and hyperparathyroidism is indistinguishable from that of the more common causes of primary hyperparathyroidism of adenoma or hyperplasia and the diagnosis is made only on pathological examination. In conclusion, the distinction of water clear cell hyperplasia from water clear cell adenoma can be challenging in many cases, although clinically significant as far as treatment and follow-up.
Abkürzungen
iPTH
Intact parathyroid hormone
WCC
Water-clear cells
WCCA
Water-clear cell adenoma
WCCH
Water-clear cell hyperplasia

Background

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder with an incidence of 21.6 per 100,000 person/year. Parathyroid water-clear cell hyperplasia (WCCH) and water-clear cell adenoma (WCCA) are rare causes of primary hyperparathyroidism, with hyperplasia to be more common than adenoma [1, 2]. The frequency of WCCH seems to be less than 1% of all primary hyperplasia [3]. It is characterized by an increase of the upper glands and may reach large sizes before involvement of the inferior ones [2, 3]. The classic form of WCCH involves all four glands, with finely vacuolated chief cells, thin or lack of capsule, and normal parathyroid tissue within or outside it. Water-clear cells (WCCs) are not part of the composition of normal human parathyroid glands and their presence has been associated with parathyroid hyperfunction [2, 3]. Also, WCCs represent transformed chief cells that frequently appear with advancing age [3, 4].

Case presentation

We herein report a case of primary hyperparathyroidism in a 53-year-old woman with multinodular goiter. The patient was referred to our endocrine outpatient clinic for assessment of persistently elevated serum calcium and severe osteoporosis. She was asymptomatic and she had no previous history of nephrolithiasis. She had a non-contributory past medical history and reported no family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Biochemical analysis revealed corrected serum calcium of 11.1 mg/dl (reference range 8.4–10.2), serum phosphorus of 2.6 mg/dl (reference range 2.3–4.7), 25-OH vitamin D3 of 9.1 ng/ml (reference range 28–47), serum creatinine of 0.7 mg/dl (reference range 0.6–1.2) and an intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) level of 398 pg/ml (reference range 10–65). The 24-h urine collection for calcium was 246 mg/24 h (reference range 100–300). Ultrasonography showed a 5.4 cm multilobulated hypoechoic well defined mass localized in the lower half of the left thyroid lobe and submersible into the sub-clavicular area. The right parathyroid glands were within normal size (Fig. 1a). Technetium (99mTc) sestamibi scanning was consistent with a persistent very large area of increased activity possibly corresponding to a left inferior double parathyroid adenoma (Fig. 1b). The elevated preoperative levels of serum calcium and iPTH were not proportionate to the huge parathyroid mass. The patient underwent a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. At surgery, two large merged lobulated, tan-colored parathyroid glands measuring 5.4 cm were removed from the left superior and inferior aspects of the adjacent thyroid extending inferiorly to the sub-clavicular area. The recurrent laryngeal nerve was coursing behind the mass and was carefully preserved. The right side was not explored. At surgery was not possible to distinguish whether the parathyroids represented a single hyperplastic gland or two adjacent adenomas that had coalesced (Fig. 1c). Histopathology revealed polygonal hyperplastic and/or hypertrophic cells, with a diffuse (solid sheet-like) pattern or arranged in acini, follicles, papillae or trabeculae, on occasion lining admixed microcystic degenerate formations containing proteinaceous material. Moreover, revealed distinct cell membranes demarcating abundant water clear cytoplasm, ranging from granular to finely vacuolated and also small and normal nuclei, sometimes polar and oriented towards adjacent stroma and blood vessels. Also, the lesion exhibited lobulated periphery with a lack of capsule or rim of parathyroid tissue (Fig. 1d1). Immunohistochemistry showed that the cells were positive for PTH staining (Fig. 1d2). These findings were consistent with diffused water clear cell hyperplasia. After parathyroidectomy iPTH dropped immediately to 54 pg/ml. The patient made an uneventful recovery, and 1 week postoperatively serum iPTH and calcium levels were 60 pg/ml, and 8.8 mg/dl respectively. Calcium carbonate plus 1a–vitamin D (alfacalcidol) supplementations were administered. The CARE guidelines were followed in this case.

Discussion and conclusions

A rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism is associated with the presence of water clear cells in the human parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands have water clear cells content as their dominant histology. On microscopic examination, normal parathyroid tissue is replaced with growth of WCCs which have foamy cytoplasm containing vacuoles, instead of the chief cells of parathyroid hyperplasia or adenomas [5]. The clinical presentation of the patients with WCCs parathyroid hyperfunction is indistinguishable from that of the more common causes of primary hyperparathyroidism of adenoma or hyperplasia and the diagnosis is made only on pathological examination.
Water clear cell hyperplasia in it’s classic form involves all four glands by distinctive, finely vacuolated chief cells, thin capsule and normal parathyroid tissue neither within nor outside the gland. Distinction between water clear cell hyperplasia and adenoma may not always be possible owing to incomplete gland replacement by clear cells in hyperplasia or the presence of asymmetrical hyperplasia [6]. In WCCH the individual parathyroids may vary considerably in size and may not all be completely replaced by water clear cells. Most WCCAs are solitary, although rarely they may be multiple. The presence of an intervening fibrous capsule suggests an adenoma [24].
Typically, WCCH starts in the superior parathyroid glands, which may reach large sizes before involvement of the inferior glands [3, 4, 7]. This may occurred in our patient, although coalescence between both superior and inferior glands cannot be excluded. In our case, intra-operatively the contralateral side had not been explored as the pre-operative diagnosis was that of an adenoma. On the other hand, it was extremely difficult to establish the diagnosis during surgery of the large parathyroid tumors, based on the frozen section specimens, even though it was very important to define the histological type as adenoma or hyperplasia to consider the appropriate surgical excision.
In the present case, iPTH level was preoperatively highly elevated whereas serum calcium was not particularly high. Post-operatively, an immediate drop of iPTH and serum calcium levels was observed and remained within normal range until the last follow-up appointment 6 months later. A longer follow-up period (on a 6-month basis for at least 5 years) it is advised to our patient since the contralateral side had not been explored. A decision to monitor the patient rather than re-operate was taken based on clinical and biochemical cure.
In conclusion, WCCH is a very rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Its distinction from WCCA can be challenging in many cases, although clinically significant concerning treatment and follow-up. However, the histological appearance of both entities is markedly evident. In our case, preoperative imaging showed an asymmetrical enlargement of bilobular mass of the left inferior parathyroid gland and normal glands in the contralateral side, leading to a unilateral approach. A strict follow-up period will be continued since the possibility of contralateral recurrence cannot be excluded.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge with thanks the kind contribution of Professor S. Tseleni-Balafouta for the final histopathological diagnosis.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sector.

Availability of data and materials

Materials described in the manuscript, including all relevant raw data, will be freely available to any scientist wishing to use them for non-commercial purposes, without breaching participants confidentially. The data is available from the corresponding author on request.
The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Medical University of Athens and the patient gave written informed consent to participate. This study was performed according to Declaration of Helsinki.
The patient gave written informed consent for the publication of the images and medical data.

Competing interests

There are no competing interests that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported.
Georgios Boutzios is an editorial board member for BMC Endocrine Disorders.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Stout LC Jr. Water-clear-cell hyperplasia mimicking parathyroid adenoma. Hum Pathol. 1985;16:1075–6.CrossRefPubMed Stout LC Jr. Water-clear-cell hyperplasia mimicking parathyroid adenoma. Hum Pathol. 1985;16:1075–6.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Patrick T, Seth K, Lawrence K, David R, Edmund P. Water clear cell parathyroid adenoma: case report and literature review. Thyroid disorders Ther. 2014;3:160. Patrick T, Seth K, Lawrence K, David R, Edmund P. Water clear cell parathyroid adenoma: case report and literature review. Thyroid disorders Ther. 2014;3:160.
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Prasad KK, Agarwal G, Krishnani N. Water-clear cell adenoma of the parathyroid gland: a rare entity. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2004;47:39–40.PubMed Prasad KK, Agarwal G, Krishnani N. Water-clear cell adenoma of the parathyroid gland: a rare entity. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2004;47:39–40.PubMed
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Ezzat T, Maclean GM, Parameswaran R, Phillips B, Komar V, Mihai R, et al. Primary hyperparathyroidism with water clear cell content: the impact of histological diagnosis on clinical management and outcome. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2013;95:e60–2.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Ezzat T, Maclean GM, Parameswaran R, Phillips B, Komar V, Mihai R, et al. Primary hyperparathyroidism with water clear cell content: the impact of histological diagnosis on clinical management and outcome. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2013;95:e60–2.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Murakami K, Watanabe M, Nakashima N, Fujimori K, Ishida K, Ohuchi N, et al. Water-clear adenoma associated with primary hyperparathyroidism: report of a case. Surg Today. 2014;44:773–7.CrossRefPubMed Murakami K, Watanabe M, Nakashima N, Fujimori K, Ishida K, Ohuchi N, et al. Water-clear adenoma associated with primary hyperparathyroidism: report of a case. Surg Today. 2014;44:773–7.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Bai S, LiVolsi VA, Fraker DL, Bing Z. Water-clear parathyroid adenoma: report of two cases and literature review. Endocr Pathol. 2012;23:196–200.CrossRefPubMed Bai S, LiVolsi VA, Fraker DL, Bing Z. Water-clear parathyroid adenoma: report of two cases and literature review. Endocr Pathol. 2012;23:196–200.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Kanda K, Okada Y, Tanikawa T, Morita E, Tsurudome Y, Konishi T, et al. A rare case of primary hyperparathyroidism with clear cell adenoma. Endocr J. 2004;51:207–12.CrossRefPubMed Kanda K, Okada Y, Tanikawa T, Morita E, Tsurudome Y, Konishi T, et al. A rare case of primary hyperparathyroidism with clear cell adenoma. Endocr J. 2004;51:207–12.CrossRefPubMed
Metadaten
Titel
Primary hyperparathyroidism caused by enormous unilateral water-clear cell parathyroid hyperplasia
verfasst von
Georgios Boutzios
Helen Sarlanis
Anna Kolindou
Antigoni Velidaki
Theodore Karatzas
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2017
Verlag
BioMed Central
Erschienen in
BMC Endocrine Disorders / Ausgabe 1/2017
Elektronische ISSN: 1472-6823
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-017-0207-1

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2017

BMC Endocrine Disorders 1/2017 Zur Ausgabe

Leitlinien kompakt für die Innere Medizin

Mit medbee Pocketcards sicher entscheiden.

Seit 2022 gehört die medbee GmbH zum Springer Medizin Verlag

Update Innere Medizin

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.