Çukurova Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi (Mar 2015)
A Case of Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma at an Unexpected Location
Abstract
Ectopic parathyroid tissue can be seen at any location from the mandibula to the mediastinum. The main problem in parathyroid surgery are determination of these ectopic parathyroid tissues' location and their resection. About 1-2% of patients with hyperparathyroidism have a deep mediastinal located parathyroid and transsternal or transthoracic approach should have to be employed most of the time. A 63-year-old female patient, presenting with widespread joint pain and fatigue complaints going on for about a year, was diagnosed with parathyroid adenoma in the mediastinal area as shown by the results of analyses conducted upon the detection of high levels of calcium and parathormone. Accordingly she was taken into surgery with a cervical incision and adenoma in a posterior localization in the carotid artery sheath on the upper mediastinum was seen. The patient, whose calcium, phosphor, and parathormone levels returned to normal levels following the surgery, was discharged with no problems on post-op day 2. Consequently, parathyroid is a tissue whose atypical localization is quite frequent. Nevertheless, atypical localized parathyroid surgeries can be performed by experienced surgeons without having to resort to a secondary procedure with minimally invasive methods with the contribution of localization studies before and/or during the procedure. [Cukurova Med J 2015; 40(Suppl 1): 127-130]
