Asymptomatic Primary Hyperparathyroidism in Children: Newer Methods of Preoperative Diagnosis

An asymptomatic 11-year-old boy was found to have primary hyperparathyroid secondary to an isolated parathyroid adenoma. This rare disorder of childhood can have asymptomatic hypercalcemia as its only manifestation. Parathyroid hormone assays and studies of urinary calcium excretion, especially the calcium-creatlnine clearance ratio, distinguish parathyroid hormone excess from hypocalciuric forms of hypercalcemia, Real-time ultrasonography and dual-isotope subtraction scanning provide accurate, noninvasive, preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid tissue. The prognosis of untreated, asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism in children is not known, and the indications for surgery are unclear. Diagnostic certainty is, therefore, especially important prior to surgical exploration.