Hungry bone syndrome after surgical treatment of severe primary hyperparathyroidism: about 3 cases]

Persistant hypocalcemia occurring after surgical treatment of severe primary hyperparathyroidism may be due to transient or permanent hypoparathyroidism but also to a bone disease. We report three cases of hypocalcemia after surgery of large parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia in women. Plasma calcium, phosphate and PTH levels are in accordance with much less than Hungry Bone Syndrome much greater than (HBS). HBS is related to both excessive bone demineralization and turn over. It is a major importance to distinguish HBS from surgical hypoparathyroidism in order to start early the appropriate treatment given for a long period.