Intrathyroidal parathyroid carcinoma mimicking a thyroid nodule in a MEN type 1 patient

A 59-year-old woman with classic manifestations of hyperparathyroidism associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 presented with a right adrenal mass and two pituitary microadenomas on imaging studies. For evaluation of hypercalcemia, (99m) Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was done and showed focal uptake at the thyroid level of the right anterior neck. Subsequent neck sonography showed several thyroid nodules, but there was no parathyroid tumor. Percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of the dominant thyroid nodule indicated a follicular nodule. After surgery, final histopathology revealed intrathyroidal parathyroid carcinoma. This case illustrates the difficulty in diagnosing parathyroid carcinoma via fine-needle aspiration.