The Histopathological Findings of Operated Tumors of the Parathyroid Glands and Patient Data: A Single Centre Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Parathyroid proliferative disorders include adenoma, hyperplasia and carcinoma. Adenoma and hyperplasia are more commonly found in women, while carcinoma, which is very rare, is equally common in both sexes. The aim of this study was to analyze parathyroid tumors location and histopathology and to compare differences between the sexes. Tumors were surgically removed at the University Hospital Centre Osijek between 2016 and 2019.
Patients and Methods: Patients of both sexes who underwent parathyroidectomy for parathyroid tumor at the University Hospital Centre Osijek between 2016 and 2019 were included in the study. Parathyroid tumor samples were histologically analyzed, and their size and histopathology were noted. Existing documentation on patients with parathyroid tumor was used. Analyses were done on archived histologic material stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
Results: Overall, 19 samples of parathyroid tumor were included in this study. Tumors of the parathyroid glands were most commonly localized on the lower left parathyroid (8 cases, 42%), and least commonly on the upper right parathyroid (2 cases, 11%). The most common disorder was adenoma (11 cases, 58%), followed by hyperplasia, while no cases of cancer were diagnosed. Women underwent tumor operations more frequently than men (17 versus 2 cases). There was no correlation between histopathology of parathyroid tumor and sex (Fisher’s exact test, p = 1) or between tumor location and sex (Fisher’s exact test, p = 1).
Conclusion: The most common locations of tumors of the parathyroid glands were the inferior glands; the most common location was the left inferior parathyroid gland and the most common disorder was adenoma. Women were operated on more frequently than men.