A case of mild hyperparathyroidism in childhood

A West Indian girl aged 9 developed transient abdominal pain, vomiting, intense constipation, and occasional headaches. There was gross hyper-calciuria and moderate hypercalcaemia which was suppressed to normal limits by oral hydrocortisone on the first occasion. A small parathyroid adenoma was subsequently removed, after which the plasma calcium reverted to normal and the hypercalciuria resolved. The phosphate excretion index, bone biopsy, and measurement of radiological bone density proved to be the most useful investigations in establishing a diagnosis