Middle mediastinal parathyroid: diagnosis and surgical approach

Boushey, Robin P MD
Todd, Thomas R.J MD

^aDivision of General Surgergy, The Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
^bDivision of Thoracic Surgery, The Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

^*Address correspondence to Dr Boushey, Toronto General Hospital University Health Network, 101 College St, CCRW 3-838, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4 Canada; e-mail: [email protected].

Accepted for publication April 22, 2000.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 71(2):p 699-701, February 2001. | DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02348-1

We report two cases of middle mediastinal parathyroid ectopia associated with chronic renal disease. In both patients the diagnosis was delayed and prolonged due to the unusual location of the ectopic parathyroid tissue. The surgical approach was in error in 1 patient and corrected during the second procedure. We describe the surgical technique for exposing and excising parathyroid tissue from this area.