A case report of a patient with hyperparathyroidism and presumed sellar/parasellar brown tumor.

OBJECTIVE

This is a report of an 18 year old black female patient with primary hyperparathyroidism and a sellar/parasellar brown tumor and unusual nonresponsiveness to 1,25 vitamin D administration post parathyroidectomy but responsiveness postoperatively to 25 vitamin D administration.

METHOD: Report the history, physical exam, laboratory, and radiological findings of the patient with a possible sellar/parasellar brown tumor and review the pertinent literature.

RESULTS

Female patient presented with hyperparathyroidism and brown tumors of the ribs and sternum which have disappeared one and one-half years post parathyoidectomy with resolution of postoperative hypocalcemia. She was found, on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to have a 3.4 x 4.7 cm sellar mass which appeared to be a brown tumor as it has decreased over a twelve month period of normal calcium. Postoperatively, she had an unusual response to 1,25 vitamin D in that her calcium did not increase with massive doses (2 mcg) but with 25 vitamin D only.

CONCLUSIONS

A patient is reported with a probable sellar/parasellar brown tumor and hyperparathyroidism. After initial parathyroidectomy the sellar/parasellar brown tumor still persisted and did not respond to 1,25 vitamin D but did respond to 25 vitamin D administration.