Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat developed parathyroid tumor after radioiodine therapy for thyroid
By Ruane E et al.·2025·Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Kingdom·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Primary hyperparathyroidism in a domestic shorthair cat following I<sup>131</sup> radioiodine therapy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was brought in for evaluation of a neck mass after receiving radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism two years earlier. Tests showed that the mass was likely a tumor related to primary hyperparathyroidism, which can cause high calcium levels in the blood. The cat underwent surgery to remove the mass, and afterward, both the hyperparathyroidism and the high calcium levels completely resolved. This case highlights a rare complication in cats following radioiodine treatment.
People also search for: cat neck mass · hyperparathyroidism in cats · cat surgery for tumor · high calcium levels in cats · radioiodine therapy side effects in cats
Abstract
A 12-year-old male neutered domestic shorthaired cat presented for further assessment of a cervical mass, having undergone radioiodine therapy for treatment of hyperthyroidism 2 years prior to presentation. Initial cytological diagnosis of the mass was supportive of a carcinoma and laboratory results were consistent with primary hyperparathyroidism. Thoracic radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging were performed of the neck prior to surgical removal of the mass. Histopathology and immunohistochemical characteristics were supportive of a parathyroid tumour. Primary hyperparathyroidism and the associated hypercalcaemia fully resolved following surgery. In human medicine, there is awareness of an association between radioactive iodine therapy and development of primary hyperparathyroidism. Based on our literature search, this sequence of pathologies has not been reported in cats. This report documents primary hyperparathyroidism in a cat following radioiodine therapy.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/40169934