High or inappropriately normal parathormone (PTH) levels in the presence of hypercalcemia are very suggestive of primary hyperparathyroidism. Once the biochemical diagnosis is confirmed, surgery may be indicated according to specific guidelines. When this is the case, several preoperative localization studies may be performed, such as ultrasonography, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance and parathyroid scintigraphy. These exams may be ordered in an attempt to help the surgeon by pointing out the precise localization of one or more enlarged parathyroid glands. However, these exams have variable sensitivities, which usually correlate with serum levels of PTH. Moreover, the coexistence of thyroid nodules may lead to false-positive observations. We herein describe three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, whose parathyroid nature of preoperative suspicious localized cervical nodules were confirmed by PTH measurement in needle aspirates of these nodules.
Primary hyperparathyroidism; Parathormone; Fine-needle aspirate; Cervical nodule
