Brown mandibular tumour revealing secondary hyperparathyroidism: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract Introduction The brown tumour is a benign lesion resulting from an anomaly of bone metabolism in the context of primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism. It can be asymptomatic, manifesting itself either as a more or less voluminous and annoying swelling or inducing symptoms such as pain, spontaneous fractures or neurological pictures. We report a case of a brown tumour in a young subject with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Observation A 33-year-old woman consulted for dental pain of the 47. The clinical examination revealed a mandibular swelling in the symphysis region, which prompted a radiological examination showing an osteolytic tumour process. A biopsy of the lesion was performed for anatomical and pathological study, which revealed a brown tumour. The biological workup by parathyroid hormone was elevated, and the phosphocalcic workup was disturbed. The patient was subsequently treated medically with a good outcome. Discussion Brown tumours are a rare manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism, but still very rare in secondary hyperparathyroidism. Their location in the maxillomandibular region is exceptional. The diagnosis is based on biology despite the anatomopathological examination of the tumour biopsy. Treatment depends on several elements: etiology, extent, location, and symptomatology. For secondary hyperparathyroidism, treatment is mainly medical.