Rare Neck Tumour Causes Recurrent Kidney Stones, 29-Year-Old Woman Successfully Treated at AINU

Hyderabad: Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology, Dilsukhnagar (AINU) successfully treated a rare case involving recurrent renal stones caused by a parathyroid adenoma, a tumour in the neck that results in overproduction of parathyroid hormone leading to high blood calcium levels(hypercalcemia) and kidney stone formation.

A 29-year-old female from Saroornagar, Hyderabad, was suffering from bilateral loin pain, burning in urine and vomiting for one week, with impaired renal parameters. The patient had a history of multiple renal stone surgeries in the past.

Speaking about the case, Dr. Subhash Chandra Bose Inturi, Consultant Urologist, AINU Dilsukhnagar, said, “This is one of the rare and unique cases. On evaluation, found to have bilateral, multiple renal stones obstructing the urinary outflow. Both kidney stones were removed in a staged manner.

During further evaluation, her blood calcium levels and parathyroid hormone levels are high. Parathyroid scintigraphy and spect CT (a special scan to identify parathyroid tumours), the tumour was identified in the left parathyroid gland, in the neck, which was the culprit for all the issues, and the tumour was removed surgically. She recovered well.”

Parathyroid glands present in the neck are primarily responsible for regulating body calcium levels. A tumour in the gland causes a normal rise in blood calcium and urinary calcium levels. This excess calcium in urine got deposited in the kidneys, causing recurrent, bilateral and multiple renal stones.

Unless the main culprit tumour is addressed and removed, patients continue to suffer from recurrent stones”.

Dr. Subhash Chandra Bose Inturi further said, “If someone has recurrent stone former, not just removal of the stones cures the disease, but they need to undergo METABOLIC EVALUATION, i.e a few urine and blood tests to identify the actual root cause of the problem. Recurrent kidney stones should prompt evaluation to identify the underlying cause.”

Speaking about the procedure, Dr. Srinivasa Narayanam, Senior Consultant Urologist, HOD Urology, AINU Dilsukhnagar, said, “Patients are to be made aware that mere stone removal is not enough and they need to undergo special investigations, more so in patients with recurrent kidney stones, bilateral stone and stone in children to identify and treat conditions that cause recurrent stones.”

Apart from this, intake of sufficient amount of water, about 2.5 – 3 lit per day, adding citrus fruits to the diet which contain citrate, helpful in preventing stone formation, avoiding high salt intake, high animal protein, maintaining healthy body weight, avoiding excess chocolates, especially in kids, all help to prevent kidney stone formation or recurrece of kidney stone.