[Recalcification of an 8 x 4 x 4.5 cm large brown tumor with spontaneous fracture following parathyroidectomy. Case report and course].

Primary hyperparathyroidism is typically accompanied by a vast array of symptoms and the occurrence of so-called brown tumors often localized in the metaphysis of bone. These tumors are radiologically and histologically hard to distinguish from giant cell tumors. Usually they recalcify after parathyroidectomy, except in case of genuine cysts. We report on an extended brown tumor of the tibia located just below the knee joint of a 45-year-old woman. It was a large as 8 x 4 x 4.5 cm and had been noticed after a spontaneous fracture. Complete recalcification occurred after parathyroidectomy and the bone recuperated fully after 6 months.