Parathyroid adenoma in a child presenting as rickets.

Primary hyperparathyroidism in childhood is rare. Anspach and Clifton found only 12 cases up to 1939 and since then a few cases in children have been reported by Pugh (1946), Tsumori, Jensen, Hunnicutt, Foreman and Kinsell (1955), Crawford, Stefanelli and Alvarez (1956); these have in general, shown the changes typical of the adult. The case described here is thought worthy of notice, not only in view of the age, but also because the degree of renal involvement and the radiological features were misleading at the time; in addition, as Dent and Hodson (1954) have stated, primary parathyroid disease in childhood may help to elucidate further the mode of action of parathyroid hormone.