Multiple brown tumors as a result of hyperparathyroidism in chronic renal disease: a case report

Moncef Sellami, Yosr Chaabouni

PAMJ. 2017; 26:144. Published 14 Mar 2017 | doi:10.11604/pamj.2017.26.144.12026

The brown tumor or Osteitis fibrosa cystica is a benign bone lesion that caused by hyperparathyroidism.This complication has been decreased by diagnosis and successful treatment of hyperparathyroidism. The brown tumor of hyperparathyroidism results from a metabolic disorder that affects long bones, ribs, and pelvis. The maxillary involvement is rare. Parathyroidectomy is a good choice for patients with high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and diffuse brown Tumor leading to a gradual decrease in the maxillary tumors. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with Chronic renal failure presented with a one-year history of slowly enlarging mass of the left cheek after 17 years of maintenance hemodialysis. The physical examination revealed a mass of the left jaw and the infraorbital region associated with a left exophthalmia. The mass was soft in consistency and tender on palpation. Her serum PTH Concentration was 4830 pg/ml and her calcemia was normal. The computed tomography (CT) of the facial skeleton showed multiple osteolytic lesions of the maxillary sinuses and mandibular bone suggestive of brown tumors. The expansive lesion of the left maxillary bone had an extensive involvement of the left maxilla and the maxillary sinus. The patient underwent a subtotal parathyroidectomy. The PTH concentration 1 hour after the surgery confirmed a level within the normal range. At 12-month follow-up, there was an improvement of the exophthalmia and partial regression of the tumors.
Corresponding author
Moncef Sellami, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia| Sfax Medical School,University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia (sellami_moncef@yahoo.fr)


The Pan African Medical Journal (ISSN: 1937-8688) is a subsidiary of the Pan African Medical Journal. The contents of this journal is intended exclusively for professionals in the medical, paramedical and public health and other health sectors.

Currently tracked by: DOAJ, AIM, Google Scholar, AJOL, EBSCO, Scopus, Embase, IC, HINARI, Global Health, PubMed Central, PubMed/Medline, ESCI

Physical address: "Kenya: 3rd Floor, Park Suite Building, Parkland Road, Nairobi. PoBox 38583-00100, tel: +254 (0)20-520-4356 | Cameroon: Immeuble TechnoPark Essos, Yaounde, PoBox: 10020 Yaounde, tel: +237 (0)24-309-5880"