Primary Hyperparathyroidism-Induced Acute Pancreatitis: Case Report and Systematic Review.
Fei Che, Dongfeng Lv, YaDong Liu et al.
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Case in brief
A 61-year-old man presented with acute pancreatitis and severe hypercalcemia, with total serum calcium of 3.54 μmol/L (14.16 mg/dL) and parathyroid hormone of 640.5 pg/mL. Unenhanced abdominal CT showed moderately severe acute pancreatitis. Cervical ultrasonography and 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy identified a left inferior parathyroid adenoma. After parathyroidectomy, his calcium normalized and symptoms resolved.
What made this case unusual
Acute pancreatitis was the initial manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism, with a parathyroid adenoma identified as the source of the marked hypercalcemia.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Consider primary hyperparathyroidism in idiopathic or recurrent acute pancreatitis; serum calcium and parathyroid hormone testing can identify this treatable cause.