07-21-2010, 04:44 PM
A 60-year-old woman complains of a 1-year history of bone pains, anorexia, weight loss, and constipation. Serum calcium is elevated and she is diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism. She is treated surgically, with removal of her parathyroid adenoma. She then has a long period of hypocalcemia and requires continuous treatment with vitamin D and calcium. Subsequently, after 6 months she becomes normocalcemic and does not need therapy. Which of the following conditions best explains these events?
A. Her remaining 3 parathyroid glands were destroyed
B. She has unrecognized pseudohypoparathyroidism
C. She had severe bone disease
D. She has pancreatitis from hyperparathyroidism
E. The wrong parathyroid gland was removed
A. Her remaining 3 parathyroid glands were destroyed
B. She has unrecognized pseudohypoparathyroidism
C. She had severe bone disease
D. She has pancreatitis from hyperparathyroidism
E. The wrong parathyroid gland was removed