Unusual recurrent renal secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by hyperplastic autograft with supernumerary parathyroid adenoma: A case report

Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT/CT imaging to diagnose secondary hyperparathyroidism after parathyroid forearm transplantation

This article report a 40-year-old male patient who underwent total thyroidectomy and forearm auto-transplantation in another hospital for secondary hyperparathyroidism. After 4 years of follow-up, the level of parathyroid hormone continued to increase, and ultrasound showed nodules in the neck and right forearm, which were considered to be of parathyroid origin. Technetium 99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography (Tc-99m-MIBI SPECT/CT) imaging showed increased radioactive uptake in the submuscular soft tissue nodule of the right medial forearm, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) is 0.98, which was identified as transplanted functioning parathyroid tissue. No parathyroid imaging activity was found in the neck. The patient then underwent partial removal of ectopic parathyroid tissue from the right forearm. Pathological examination confirmed parathyroid tissue, and removal was followed by a rapid decline in serum parathyroid hormone levels.

A preoperative parathyroid scan is important for the total removal of the transplanted parathyroid tissue in recurrent secondary hyperthyroidism: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Secondary hyperparathyroidism was one of mineral and bone disorders owing to chronic kidney disease. Patients who suffer from secondary hyperparathyroidism would receive medical treatment or parathyroidectomy with or without autotransplantation (AT). However, some patients receiving parathyroidectomy with AT have recurrent hyperparathyroidism, which impacts their lives. Patients with recurrent hyperparathyroidism may present persistent hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia, which would cause cardiovascular disease, like atherosclerosis.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 63-year-old female of Asian descent with chronic kidney disease who suffered from recurrent hyperparathyroidism for twice. The patient underwent parathyroidectomy with AT in the left thigh when secondary hyperparathyroidism happened. After 3 months, recurrent hyperparathyroidism happened.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with recurrent hyperparathyroidism due to chronic kidney disease with hyperparathyroidism status post parathyroidectomy with AT in the left thigh. Our patient also suffered from mineral and bone disorder.

INTERVENTION

Two parathyroid adenoma in the left thigh were found. However, one of them was too small to found in the operation. Therefore, autograftectomy of the large one was performed. However, hyperparathyroidism happened again. This time, the autograftectomy was performed under dual phase Tc-99m MIBI (99m Tc-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) parathyroid scintigraphy and it succeeded.

OUTCOMES

After secondary autograftectomy, the value of intact parathyroid hormone was surveyed immediately and dropped by two-third followed by gradual reduction in the following weeks. The calcemia and phosphatemia were back to normal gradually.

LESSONS

In our case, importance of scintigraphy in the parathyroidectomy was confirmed.