Preoperative prediction of parathyroid carcinoma in an Asian Indian cohort

Background Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) requires preoperative prediction for appropriate surgical management. Differentiation from symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (sPHPT) cohort is difficult. Methods Patients with sPHPT from a tertiary‐care center, Western India, including Cohort‐A (n = 19 [10/M; 9/F]) with PC and Cohort‐B (n = 93 [33/M; 60/F] with benign parathyroid lesions) were compared to derive predictors for differential diagnosis. Results There were no differences in clinical or biochemical parameters between the two cohorts. Comparison of CECT parameters showed that irregular shape, tumor heterogeneity, infiltration, short/long‐axis ratio >0.76, and long‐diameter >30 mm had high negative‐predictive value and intratumoral calcification had 100% positive‐predictive value to diagnose PC; whereas there were no differences in contrast‐enhancement patterns. Long diameter, short/long‐axis ratio, and heterogeneity were significant predictors on multivariate analysis. Conclusion It is difficult to predict diagnosis of PC in an Indian sPHPT cohort based on clinical and biochemical parameters, whereas CECT parathyroid‐based parameters can aid in diagnosis.