PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM (literature review)

Abstract

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder in adults and asymptomatic hypercalcemia is its typical manifestation. Primary hyperparathyroidism is clinically symptomatic in younger patients who reveal signs of hypercalcemia, skeletal complications and/or nephrolithiasis. In most cases, primary hyperparathyroidism is caused by a solitary benign parathyroid adenoma, rarely by multiple adenomas. The involvement of all the four parathyroid glands, so-called parathyroid hyperplasia, occurs in approximately 10 % cases. Parathyroid carcinoma is exceedingly uncommon (less than 1 %). Surgery is the principal treatment method for most adult patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, apart from the cases associated with hereditary hypocalciuric hypercalcemia.