When a Pathological Forearm Fracture Led to Explore the Neck: About a Case

The majority of patients with parathyroid carcinoma (PC) have significant clinical signs and simultaneous symptoms related to the unregulated hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by the tumor. The aim of this case was to report a patient presenting an isolated bone fracture leading to the diagnosis of PC. A 20-years-old female patient presenting a fracture of both bones of the forearm following a fall from her own height. Imageries showed diffuse bone demineralization. Biology revealed malignant hypercalcemia at 4.1 mmol/L and PTH at 1331 pg/mL. Bone densitometry showed severe osteoporosis with a femoral and lumbar T-score < − 3DS. Imageries showed a right parathyroid mass of 32 mm. An one-piece excision of the pathological gland, right thyroid lobectomy and ipsilateral central lymph node dissection were performed. Postoperatively, the patient presented a hungry bone syndrome with severe hypocalcemia and required substitutive treatment. PTH on day 1 was normal. Pathology analysis found a PC with Ki67 at 3%, lymph node removal was negative. Complete one-piece surgical excision is the only potentially curative treatment for PC. Preoperative suspicion and intraoperative recognition of malignant features is important in order to propose an appropriate compartmental surgery, which can provide the lowest possible recurrence rate.