Percutaneous ablation of intrathyroidal parathyroid adenoma: A case report and brief review of the literature

Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT), predominantly caused by parathyroid adenomas (PAs), leads to elevated calcium levels and a range of complications, including renal, skeletal and cardiovascular issues. While parathyroidectomy is the standard treatment for resolving hypercalcemia, the present study describes a case of intrathyroidal PA treated with microwave ablation (MWA). A 29-year-old woman with recurrent HPT presented with elevated parathyroid hormone (183 pg/ml) and serum calcium (11.06 mg/dl) levels following a previous right upper and lower parathyroidectomy. Imaging revealed a well-defined hypoechoic nodule within the right thyroid lobe, confirmed as an intrathyroidal PA following sestamibi scanning. The patient underwent MWA, achieving the rapid normalization of parathyroid hormone and calcium levels. Although PA is a common cause of primary HPT, a thorough review of the literature found no instances of intrathyroidal PA treated with MWA. On the whole, the present case report demonstrates that MWA may be a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of intrathyroidal PAs, particularly when traditional surgery is not a viable option.