[Transplantation hyperparathyroidism--tumorlike growth and autonomous function of autografts of the hyperplastic parathyroid (author's transl)].

The results of clinical and morphologic studies performed in 41 patients with chronic, renal failure and secondary hyperparathyroidism, who had total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue into the forearm muscle are presented. In five cases, 7--33 months after autotransplantation we found transplantation tumors developing in the forearm. Explanted grafts showed invasive growth of parathyroid tissue in the adjacent structures, into the musculature and blood vessels. The increased incidence of mitosis otherwise seen as evidence of malignant neoplasia of parathyroid tumors, indicated atypical focal proliferation of the transplanted tissue. This is justification for not performing transplantations any more in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy.