Brown Tumor of the Maxilla in Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

To our knowledge, this is the second case of brown tumor of the maxilla to be reported in a patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism. This diagnosis is clinical as well as histologic since this tumor is histologically indistinguishable from giant cell reparative granuloma, a lesion that occurs commonly in the maxilla. Brown tumor is also histologically different from giant cell tumor of bone, which occurs rarely in the maxilla. Brown tumor is not uncommon in primary hyperparathyroidism, but has been rare in secondary hyperparathyroidism. With the increasing numbers of patients being maintained with habitual hemodialysis treatment, we can anticipate an increase in renal osteodystrophy associated with chronically elevated serum parathyroid hormone levels.