A 46-year-old female underwent biopsy of a right superior parathyroid mass. The biopsy showed a lobular tumor surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule composed of cells arranged in sheets and an acinar pattern. Individual cells had eosinophilic cytoplasm and round nuclei. Areas of normal parathyroid and thyroid tissue were also present. The histopathological features were consistent with a diagnosis of right superior parathyroid adenoma.

1. Patient details
• Female 46 years
• Hospital No: 1647234
• Biopsy no: 394/2020
• Clinical Diagnosis : Right superior parathyroid adenoma
• Nature of Specimen : Right superior parathyroid mass
.

2. GROSS
• Received two grey white nodular
pieces of tissue
• largest ⓜ 2.2 x 1.8 x 0.7 cm
• smallest ⓜ 0.7 x 0.7 x 0.3 cm.
• External surface shows yellowish
fatty and brownish congested areas.
• Cut section shows yellowish to dark
brown areas.

3. MICROSCOPY
Tumor shows lobular architecture surrounded by thin fibrous capsule.
4x 4x

4. MICROSCOPY
Tumor cells are arranged predominantly in sheets and acinar pattern
transversed by a delicate vascular network in the form of fibrovascular septae and blood vessels
10x 10x

5. MICROSCOPY
Individual tumor cells are round to polygonal in shape having eosinophilic cytoplasm and
round nuclei.
40x

6. MICROSCOPY
Adjacent areas of normal parathyroid tissue
10x

7. MICROSCOPY
Areas of thyroid tissue showing features of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis
10x 40x

8. Parathyroid Adenoma or Parathyroid Hyperplasia?
Definite criteria by which a
diagnosis of adenoma can
be made over that of
parathyroid hyperplasia
• The presence of a rim of
normal parathyroid tissue
around the mass.
• The identification of at
least a second normal
parathyroid gland.
10x

9. Parathyroid Adenoma or Parathyroid Carcinoma?

10. IMPRESSION
• Histopathological features were consistent
with right superior parathyroid adenoma