A Rare Case of Concomitant Maxilla and Mandible Brown Tumours, Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma, Parathyroid Adenoma, and Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica

Three Rare Concurrent Complications of Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism: Maxillary Brown Tumor, Uremic Leontiasis Ossea, and Hungry Bone Syndrome

A 48-year-old woman in her 40’s with end-stage renal disease and tertiary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) presented for a rapidly progressive maxillary tumor. Initial workup was notable for elevated intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) and diffuse thickening of skull and facial bones on computed tomography, and maxillary tumor biopsy with multinucleated giant cells. She underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy (with removal of a parathyroid adenoma and 2 hyperplastic glands) and partial resection of maxillary brown tumor. The patient’s post-operative course was complicated by hungry bone syndrome, with hypocalcemia refractory to aggressive calcium repletion. Teriparatide (recombinant PTH) was utilized with rapid resolution of hypocalcemia. To our knowledge, this is the first case of maxillary brown tumor in tertiary HPT to be reported in the USA. This case also supports teriparatide as a novel therapeutic for hungry bone syndrome refractory to aggressive calcium repletion.

Brown tumor of secondary hyperparathyroidism: surgical approach and clinical outcome

BACKGROUND

Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a frequent complication of chronic renal failure. The brown tumor is an unusual presentation of fibrous osteitis that represents a serious complication of renal osteodystrophy, affecting predominantly the hands, feet, skull, and facial bones.

CASE REPORT

The aim of this paper is to describe the case of a 53-year-old female patient, with renal failure who has been on dialysis for 6 years and developed severe secondary hyperparathyroidism and brown tumor of the maxilla and mandible, confirmed by incisional biopsy. Parathyroidectomy was indicated as a result of rapid growth of the tumor and the maintenance of laboratory findings. Despite the normalization of serum parathyroid hormone and alkaline phosphatase, tumor regression was slow and patient's important functional and esthetic deficits persisted. Excision of the mandible tumor was conservative. Osteoplasty was recommended because during a 5-year follow-up there was regression of the lesion, decreased pain, bleeding, and tooth mobility.