Parathyroid cysts (PCs) were first reported in 1880 in a study by Sandstrom, but PC removal from the neck was first reported in 1905 in a study by Goris (1,2). PCs account for 0.6% of all thyroid and parathyroid masses. These lesions always arise in the posterior neck or anterior mediastinum (3,4). PCs may be functional or non-functional, depending on the ability of the cyst to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH). In total, 15–57% of PCs are functional (5–7). In addition, the majority of non-functional PC lesions are small in size and are occasionally revealed during imaging procedures or cervical surgery, with only a minority characterized by a large size and compressive symptoms (8). The present study describes the case of a man with a giant non-functional PC extending from the lower neck to the superior mediastinum, and provides a brief discussion regarding the associated literature in order to raise awareness of this diagnosis.

A 56-year-old man was referred to the Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, Henan, China) in September 2014 with a 10 month history of exertional dyspnea, and mild dysphagia that had persisted for 3 months. The medical history of the patient included hypertension and an inguinal hernia repair, which had occurred 10 years previously.

The physical examination revealed a palpable round-shaped mass in the right thyroid lobe. The ultrasound (Philips iU22; Philips Healthcare, Andover, MA, USA) showed a 8.4×5.7×3.6-cm cystic mass attached to the right thyroid lobe (Fig. 1). A neck and chest computed tomography (CT; LightSpeed Pro32 spiral scanner with a layer thickness of 5 mm; GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA) scan was performed with contrast media, which showed the presence of a large neck and mediastinal mass (9.0×6.0 cm) with no contrast enhancement, causing right anterolateral displacement of the large vessels and left anterolateral displacement of the trachea (Fig. 2). The serum calcium and PTH concentrations were measured and identified as normal, at 2.26 mmol/l (normal range, 2.03–2.54 mmol/l) and 37.98 pg/ml (normal range, 15–65 pg/m), respectively. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed, and the content obtained from the cyst was a colorless crystal clear fluid, suggesting that the mass was a PC. The levels of PTH in the aspirated fluid were elevated (308 pg/ml; normal serum range, 10–65 pg/ml). A cytological examination of the material that was obtained following centrifugation of the fluid showed a few epithelial cells that possibly belonged to the parathyroid tissue. Based on the aforementioned findings, the diagnosis of the giant cyst was of a non-functional PC.

The patient underwent a right thyroid lobectomy and isthmectomy, with the excision of the cyst. The appearance of the giant PC was characterized by large cystic lesions with a thin wall and a watery fluid component (Fig. 3).

The cystic wall tissue was fixed in 10% formalin, washed and dehydrated using alcohol and xylene, paraffin-embedded, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (Zhuhai Beisuo Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuhai, China) for examination. The histological examination confirmed the presence of a giant PC. The cyst was surrounded by a fibrous wall and possessed the focal presence of hyperplastic parathyroid cells within the fibrotic tissue. Neither mitotic figures nor nuclear atypia were observed (Fig. 4).

No serious complications occurred subsequent to the surgery. The calcium and PTH levels of the patient were monitored post-operatively, and no abnormalities were identified. Symptoms caused by the cyst were relieved immediately following surgery. The patient was discharged 7 days after the surgery (Fig. 5). The patient remains asymptomatic, with no recurrence at 3-month follow-up.

PCs are rare, having been reported in just over 300 cases and possessing an incidence ranging between 0.075–3.000% worldwide, as stated by previous studies (9,10). Giant PCs that extend between the lower neck and superior mediastinum are even rarer. McKay et al (11) reported that in all of the PubMed studies that were published since 1925, only 107 giant non-functioning PCs had been reported. The study regarding large parathyroid cystic lesions that was conducted by Rossi et al (12) reported a 0.09% incidence over the last 15 years.

PCs may be misinterpreted as thyroid cystic lesions due to the close spatial association with the thyroid gland. Current diagnostic tools, including US, technetium-99m sestamibi scanning, CT and magnetic resonance imaging, may often differentiate between solid tumors and cystic lesions; however, differentiating between thyroid cysts and PCs is challenging. FNAB is a valuable diagnostic tool for the morphological evaluation of solid or cystic thyroid and parathyroid lesions (13). The typical findings of a watery, colorless crystal clear fluid are, in the majority of cases, suggestive of the diagnosis of a non-functional PC. The diagnosis may be established by elevated levels of PTH in the aspirated fluid (14).

Clinically, no symptoms are usually associated with PCs that are located in the parathyroid region and are not excessively large or causing compression of the adjacent tissue. Therefore, PCs tend to be large at the initial identification. In the present study, the cyst caused dyspnea in the patient as a result of marked tracheal deviation, and dysphagia due to esophageal deviation.

Controversy exists regarding the treatment of PCs. Until the 1970s, surgical treatment was considered to be the optimal scheme (15). Since the 1970s, certain studies have indicated that FNAB is the preferred management scheme due to the rarity of recurrence of PCs subsequent to aspiration (16). By contrast, a study by Sung et al stated that only 33% of non-functioning lesions were successfully treated by a simple aspiration alone (17). Similarly, Ujiki et al reported that the majority of cysts recurred subsequent to aspiration, and that surgery may be a more beneficial treatment (18). However, to the best of our knowledge, the treatment of non-functioning PCs may be considered in association with the size of the cyst. In the present study, the giant PC caused compressive symptoms; therefore, managing the PC with surgical therapy was essential.

For PCs that extend to the mediastinum, common surgical strategies include video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), a standard posterolateral thoracotomy and the classical cervical anterior approach. The VATS and posterolateral thoracotomy surgical strategies were excluded for the present study due to the size of the cyst and the surgical trauma that would be caused. In our experience, the classical cervical anterior approach should be used on PCs that are <10 cm in diameter. In order to reduce the chance of relapse, the rupture of PCs should be prevented from occurring intraoperatively. If necessary, a region of the sternocleidomastoid muscle may be temporarily severed to avoid rupture.

To the best of our knowledge, no associated fatalities of treated patients have been documented in the previous literature and the resection of giant PCs has rarely been associated with post-operative complications (19).

In conclusion, the present study reported the case of a man with a giant non-functional PC extending from the lower neck to the superior mediastinum. Giant PCs are uncommon entities in clinical practice that may manifest with compressive symptoms of the surrounding tissues. The vast majority of PCs are non-functioning. The diagnosis of a PC may be confirmed by the detection of increased levels of PTH in the aspirated fluid, which in the majority of non-functional PCs is a watery, colorless crystal clear fluid. Surgery is the treatment of choice for giant non-functioning PCs, and the classical cervical anterior approach is recommended for use on PCs that are <10 cm in diameter.