Parathyroid Cysts: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Objectives/Hypothesis Parathyroid cysts are rare clinical entities. They frequently present as a clinical diagnostic problem. They may mimic solitary thyroid nodules. The purpose of the study was to review the literature and present a case of a 22‐year‐old euthyroid woman presenting with recurrent swelling in the neck. Her complaints included choking and dysphagia. Fine‐needle aspiration of the mass revealed clear, watery fluid with an extremely high level of calcium and c‐terminal midmolecule parathyroid hormone assay in excess of 8000 pg/mL. Treatment consisted of neck exploration and removal of a 6 × 5‐cm cystic encapsulated mass. Pathological diagnosis revealed a benign parathyroid cyst. The role of needle aspiration in diagnosing thyroid masses and the importance of parathyroid hormone assay in diagnosing parathyroid cyst are emphasized.