Simcic K J, McDermott M T, Crawford G J, Marx W H, Ownbey J L, Kidd G S
Department of Medicine, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colo.
Arch Surg. 1989 Nov;124(11):1347-50. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1989.01410110109023.
A 32-year-old man had a giant cervical mass, dysphagia, dyspnea, and severe hypercalcemia. A computed tomographic scan showed the mass to extend from the left mandible to the level of the aortic arch. Exploratory surgery of the neck revealed a ruptured parathyroid cyst complicated by massive hemorrhage into the cervical tissues and mediastinum. The postoperative course was uncomplicated with prompt resolution of the hypercalcemia. Although a rare occurrence, extracapsular parathyroid hemorrhage should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all rapidly evolving cervical and mediastinal masses, especially when hypercalcemia is present.
