Unresolved lytic lesions following parathyroidectomy in a patient with chronic renal failure

Spinal cord compression due to brown tumor

We report a rare case of a vertebral brown tumor causing spinal cord compression and resulting in progressive paraparesis in a 27-year-old female with end-stage renal failure, managed with hemodialysis. Urgent neurosurgical intervention and gross total resection resulted in complete resolution of the symptoms.

Expansive jaw lesions in chronic kidney disease: review of the literature and a report of two cases

Chronic kidney disease is an increasing public health problem, with a worldwide prevalence estimated to be between 8% and 16%. The metabolic alterations induce bone and soft tissue changes, and the encompassing term chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder syndrome (CKD-MBD) is used to describe them. The cardinal manifestations of the syndrome are bone catabolism and soft tissue calcifications, which ultimately compromise the cardiovascular and skeletal systems. In rare cases, tumorous enlargement of the craniofacial bones occurs. This article provides a brief review of the pathogenesis and imaging of craniofacial changes in CKD-MBD and reports on two cases of expansive jaw lesions. The term expansive renal osteitis fibrosa is recommended to describe these lesions.

Multiple brown tumors and pathologic patellar fracture in a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism

A 79-year-old woman presents with left anterior knee pain after a fall.

Vertebral brown tumors causing neurologic compromise

OBJECTIVE

Brown tumors are nonneoplastic lesions that occur only in the setting of hyperparathyroidism. Although vertebral brown tumors are relatively rare pathologic entities, their incidence seems to be on the rise, as evidenced by multiple case reports published during the past four decades. An extensive review of these lesions is lacking in the literature. We present a case of paraparesis secondary to vertebral brown tumor followed by a detailed review of the literature.

METHODS

We performed a review of the literature to locate all reported cases to date of vertebral brown tumors resulting in neurologic sequelae. In addition, we present the case of a 33-year-old female with end-stage renal disease and previous subtotal parathyroidectomy who presented with acute-onset paraparesis from an expansile L1 brown tumor and was treated successfully by laminectomy and bracing.

RESULTS

Thirty cases of vertebral brown tumor resulting in neurologic deficit were located in our literature search. Most occurred in women (63%), those aged 40 to 49 years (27%), and in the thoracic spine (57%). Lesions occurred roughly equally in primary (47%) and secondary (53%) hyperparathyroidism. Most patients demonstrated either symptomatic or radiographic improvement after neurosurgical intervention and/or subtotal or total parathyroidectomy.

CONCLUSION

In patients presenting with a lytic vertebral lesion and known hyperparathyroidism or end-stage renal disease, brown tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis. In select cases with minimal neurologic symptoms, parathyroidectomy may be warranted prior to neurosurgical intervention.