Thoracoscopic Treatment of Mediastinal Ectopic Parathyroid Adenomas: A Case Series and Literature Review

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a clinical disorder characterized by an inappropriately elevated paratohormone (PTH) due to hypersecretion of one or more parathyroid glands, that may develop secondary hypercalcemia and other metabolic disturbances. This disease includes various signs and symptoms such as nephrolithiasis, osteopenia and osteoporosis, depression, mental numbness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation among others. The abnormal secretion of PTH is most commonly caused by a single parathyroid gland adenoma in 85% of the cases, in the other 15% is due to multiple gland hyperplasia (15-20%)(1) or rarely from a parathyroid carcinoma (<1%). HPT occurs in both genders equally around the sixth decade(2). World HPT prevalence is estimated at 1 in every 500 women and 1 in every 2000 men(3).

Mediastinal ectopic parathyroid adenomas (MEPA) are rare tumors, constituting 1-2% of all parathyroid adenomas. These glands are inferior to the sternal notch and their location may vary from the superior mediastinum to the pericardium and diaphragm(4). The first report of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma was in 1932 by Churchill in the patient Captain Charles E. Martell, who had 6 prior cervical explorations for his hyperparathyroidism until an ectopic gland was found in the superior mediastinum(5). Before the introduction of VATS, MEPA were usually resected by thoracotomy or a median sternotomy, currently with the daily use of minimally invasive surgery, VATS is being adopted as the procedure of choice.

The aim of this study to report a case series of patients with MEPA treated with VATS, along with a literature review.