Excision of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma via parasternal videomediastinoscopy

Robotic resection of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma with intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring: a case report

Background

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a disease caused by the secretion of excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) owing to the enlargement of the parathyroid gland. Ectopic parathyroid glands exist in the mediastinum in approximately 1–2% of cases, which is relatively rare. Intraoperative monitoring of serum PTH level is important to assess whether the source of hyperparathyroidism has been eliminated.

Case presentation

A 53-year-old asymptomatic woman was diagnosed with ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. A three-port robotic partial resection of the thymus containing the tumor was attempted, but bleeding from a swollen pericardial diaphragmatic vein led to the addition of an assist port along the way. The PTH level was measured intraoperatively. After confirming that the 15-min PTH level after removal of the tumor was less than 50% of the baseline value, the operation was completed. The tumor was positive for PTH and was diagnosed as an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Some small ectopic parathyroid gland tissues were observed in other parts of the thymic tissue. Serum calcium and PTH levels decreased and normalized.

Conclusions

We report the usefulness of robotic resection for ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma with PTH monitoring. However, histopathologically, small parathyroid gland tissues may remain in the surrounding thymus. Hence, we believe that a strict follow-up is required for parathyroid function in the future.

Attitude of the surgical approach in hyperparathyroidism: A retrospective study

The present study constitutes a retrospective study for patients with hyperparathyroidism surgically operated on at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Central Military Emergency University Hospital 'Dr. Carol Davila', Bucharest, Romania (SUUMC), over a period of 6 years. The study aimed to elucidate the diagnostic and surgical attitude for an effective treatment, practiced at SUUMC, Romania. The study group included 55 patients: 41 women and 14 men, diagnosed at the endocrinology department, who underwent various personalized surgeries (Kocher modified incision) for typical and ectopic locations of parathyroid pseudotumor formations (hyperplasia and parathyroid adenoma), to cure the disease. The recommended protocol was followed by immediate and 30-day postoperative evaluation which showed normalization of the blood tests, and improved clinical and imaging anomalies. In conclusion, the thoracic surgeon has the necessary knowledge to perform surgery at the cervical, thoracic-cervical and mediastinal levels. Postoperative, the results of laboratory tests for calcium (Ca) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) gradually returned to normal, as can be seen from the statistical study.

Comparison of video-assisted thoracic surgery with open surgery in the treatment of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors

Background

To investigate the therapeutic effect of different surgical treatment for ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors and pathological features.

Methods

A total of 21 patients who were diagnosed with ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors and underwent surgeries in our department from May 1995 to May 2015 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Twenty-one patients including 8 female (36.4%) and 13 male (63.6%) were collected. Among these patients, 9 cases were treated with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), while 13 cases were treated with open surgery (including one secondary open operation after thoracoscopic operation). The average size of mediastinal tumors was 2.17±1.22 cm. For the post-operational pathology, 16 cases (76.2%) were diagnosed as ectopic parathyroid adenoma; 4 cases (19.0%) were diagnosed as parathyroid hyperplasia, while only 1 case (4.8%) was diagnosed as parathyroid adenocarcinoma.

Conclusions

Parathyroid adenoma accounts for the major pathological type of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors. In addition, the correct diagnosis with precise preoperative location was the key for the treatment of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors accompanied with hyperparathyroidism. Surgical intervention was demonstrated to be an effective way for the treatment of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumors with satisfied therapeutic outcome, especially for the VATS due to its unique clinical advantages. However, there may some difficulties when locating ectopic mediastinal parathyroid tumor less than 1 cm and the operators should be very cautious when performing thoracoscopic operations.

Transcervical resection of two parathyroid adenomas located on the anterior mediastinum

The mediastinum is a possible location of ectopic parathyroid adenoma. Most ectopic parathyroid glands in the mediastinum are found in the superior mediastinum within the thymus. In this article, two cases with ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas that were excised via transcervical resection are presented. Preoperative examination of the two cases was performed. Laboratory tests supported hyperparathyroidism. For both patients, the results of radiologic and scintigraphic examinations of the cases were compatible with parathyroid adenoma masses in the anterior mediastinum. Transcervical resection was performed via suprasternal incision through the sternal notch and the posterior wall of the sternum space by blunt dissection with the finger. The soft lesions were removed en bloc in both cases. The parathyroid hormone levels of the two cases decreased dramatically after the operation. Transcervical resection may be an alternative method to major surgery in anterior mediastinal small masses.

Surgical treatment for mediastinal parathyroid adenoma causing primary hyperparathyroidism

Background

Primary hyperparathyroidism is a rare disease characterized by excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone from parathyroid adenoma, hyperplasia, or malignancy. The clinical symptoms of the condition are those of hypercalcemia. Although the lesions are commonly located in the neck region, in about 1–2 % of cases, the lesions are ectopically located within the mediastinum, where surgical excision using the cervical approach is difficult. The principal treatment of the condition is surgical excision of the lesion. However, some patients require additional surgery because of recurrence due to intraoperative dissemination. Therefore, safe and accurate excision is essential for the treatment. We reviewed the surgical treatment used at our institution for mediastinal parathyroid adenoma that caused primary hyperparathyroidism.

Method

The subjects were four patients with primary hyperparathyroidism due to mediastinal parathyroid adenoma who underwent surgery at our institution within a period of 10 years, between January 2005 and December 2014. All of the patients were female, with a mean age of 64.5 years (range, 55–74 years). The examined variables included background factors, clinical condition, surgical method, and clinical outcome.

Result

In all of the patients, primary hyperparathyroidism was detected with symptoms of hypercalcemia. Laboratory tests revealed a mean serum calcium level of 11.85 mg/dL (range, 11.2–13.2 mg/dL) and a mean parathyroid hormone (intact PTH) level of 304.8 pg/mL (range, 126–586 pg/mL), indicating elevated levels for all patients. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed tumors with a mean diameter of 2.8 cm (range, 10–45 mm) in the anterior mediastinum in all of the patients. On 99mTC-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy, abnormal accumulation was observed in all of the patients. Regarding the surgical methods, median sternotomy was used for three cases and upper partial sternotomy was used for one case. The surgery was safely and accurately performed, without postoperative complications. After surgery, the serum calcium levels immediately returned to normal and the symptoms improved.

Conclusion

We performed excision safely and accurately in all of the patients. In tumor identification, 99mTC-MIBI scintigraphy was useful. Accurate tumor identification and selection of the optimal surgical method are important for prevention of recurrence due to intraoperative dissemination.