Image Description
Parathyroid adenomas are usually oval in shape. They have greyish brown appearance and may contain foci of hemorrhage (shown here), calcification, or cystic change. Females are more commonly affected; female : male ratio = 3:1; Mean age at presentation is about 40 years. Most lesions are solitary; although rare cases involve more than one parathyroid. Parathyroid adenomas can occur as a component of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 1 syndrome (Wermer Syndrome). MEN 1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 11q13, is inactivated in MEN 1 syndrome. Sporadic parathyroid tumors have also been found to have MEN 1 mutations (see additional details in next slide).