Primary hyperparathyroidism in children.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in children. This report describes a 15-year-old boy who had an intrathymic chief cell adenoma. The literature related to this condition in neonates and children is reviewed. Neonatal hyperparathyroidism differs from hyperparathyroidism in children. The severity of symptoms and osseous lesions, genetic inheritance in many, pathological changes in the parathyroid glands and the need for more extensive treatment in neonates and infants indicate that primary hyperparathyroidism in these patients should be considered as a different entity from that occurring in older children.