Primary hyperparathyroidism in oncological care

Until the 1980s, primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) was considered to be a rare disease. The ideas on its prevalence substantially changed after introduction of blood calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) tests into clinical practice.
The patients admitted to cancer hospitals for the manifestations of HPT and osteodystrophy form a separate group. The paper describes problems in the differential diagnosis of parathyroid osteodystrophy with skeletal metastatic involvement and the tactic errors occurring in the treatment of this group of patients. Ultrasound study, hypercalcemia, and elevated PTH levels are shown to be of importance.

primary hyperparathyroidism, osteodystrophy, hypercalcemia