Successful surgical treatment of parathyroid carcinoma in two haemodialysis patients

Parathyroid carcinoma is rare, occurring in less than 2-3% of the patients with clinical features of primary hyperparathyroidism. In haemodialysis patients parathyroid carcinoma has only once been described, although secondary hyperparathyroidism in these patients is common. We discuss two female haemodialysis patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Both were treated surgically: in one patient only local excision of the malignancy was performed; the other patient underwent a modified neck dissection on the side of the tumour as well. Physical, biochemical and radiological evaluation for 4-7 years after operation gave no evidence of recurrence of the malignancy.