Brown tumors secondary to primary hyperparathyroidism in a developing country

Abstract

Primary hyperparathyroidism is characterized by autonomous and excessive parathyroid hormone secretion leading to hypercalcemia. Advanced stages may produce brown tumors, a rare manifestation in modern clinical practice that may be difficult to diagnose. We present two patients with a late diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism who developed multiple brown tumors and were successfully treated with parathyroidectomy. Hyperparathyroidism should be considered within the differential diagnosis of patients with nonspecific symptoms associated with hypercalcemia, as timely treatment helps prevent late complications like brown tumors. These lesions require a high index of clinical suspicion, as they are often confused with other benign or malignant bone lesions. In developing countries like Colombia, late-onset complications of primary hyperparathyroidism appear to be re-emerging, with a growing number of patients with brown tumors reported