Inframanubrial Parathyroid Glands in Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Alternatives to Sternotomy

Deep inframanubrial parathyroid tumors have traditionally been excised through a median sternotomy. With the advent of minimally invasive surgical access, we chose to examine the treatment options and outcomes of patients with inframanubrial mediastinal parathyroid tumors. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism seen at a university medical center over a 12-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The utility of localization studies, methods of treatment, complications, and outcomes were examined in patients with a parathyroid tumor located in the mediastinum inferior to the manubrium. Patients with parathyroid adenomas located at the thoracic inlet were excluded. Sixteen patients with inframanubrial mediastinal tumors were treated during the study period. Altogether, 81% of the patients had undergone at least one prior neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative calcium and parathyroid hormone levels were 12.4 ± 0.36 mg/dl and 273 ± 70 pg/ml, respectively. Localization studies identified mediastinal parathyroid adenomas in the following locations: anterior mediastinum (n = 8), middle mediastinum (n = 7), posterior mediastinum (n = 1). Mediastinal computed tomography and technetium-sestamibi scans demonstrated the best sensitivity, 92% and 85%, respectively. Seven patients underwent successful excision of the mediastinal adenoma by transcervical mediastinal exploration with the Cooper retractor. The other patients underwent angiographic ablation (n = 4), anterior mediastinotomy (n = 3), video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) (n = 1), and VATS plus thoracotomy (n = 1). The mean hospital stay for the study group was 2.9 ± 0.7 days. The complication rate was 25%. All patients were normocalcemic after a mean follow-up of 15 ± 7 months. Most inframanubrial mediastinal parathyroid tumors can be successfully managed without median sternotomy.     

Video-assisted mediastinoscopy (VAM) for surgical resection of ectopic parathyroid adenoma

Background  

Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas or hyperplasia account for up to 25% of primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Two percent of them are not accessible by standard cervical surgical approaches. Surgical resection has traditionally been performed via median sternotomy or thoracotomy and more recently, via video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We present our experience with the novel use of Video-Assisted Mediastinoscopy (VAM) for resection of ectopic mediastinal parathyroid glands.     

Thoracoscopically managed parathyroid adenoma in the upper anterior mediastinum

We thoracoscopically managed parathyroid adenoma of the upper anterior mediastinum in a 29-year-old man. He had a backache and was found to have bilateral ureteric stones, hypercalcemia, and extremely increased parathyroid hormone levels. 99mTc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile scintigraphy showed an accumulation area projected onto the right thyroid lobe and the upper mediastinum. A diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism secondary to double adenomas was made. The patient then underwent surgical intervention. With the patient under general anesthesia with one-lung ventilation, a reddish brown adenoma of an upper mediastinum was removed thoracoscopically with three trocars, whereas the right superior parathyroid adenoma was excised by a standard open cervical procedure. Conventionally, the mediastinal parathyroid adenoma was removed by an open approach and was associated with perioperative distress to the patient. If the exact location of the mediastinal lesion is established, thoracoscopic excision of these lesions is feasible and is strongly recommended.     

Mid-mediastinal parathyroid lesions: Preoperative localization and surgical approach in two cases

Although hyperfunctioning mediastinal parathyroid lesions that require median sternotomy or thoracotomy for removal are occasionally present, the majority are located in the anterior mediastinum closely associated with the thymus. Only eight cases of ectopic hyperfunctioning parathyroid tumors in the middle mediastinum have been reported. We experienced two cases of either persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism in which abnormal parathyroid tissue was located in the aorticopulmonary window. One of the patients had a parathyroid adenoma and the other had metastatic lesions of parathyroid carcinoma. In both cases, thallium scanning proved useful in identifying the lesions while computed tomography scan was effective for mediastinal three-dimensional localization. In one case, single photon emission computed tomography imaging with thallium proved beneficial for both identification and localization of the middle mediastinal lesion. The surgical approach used in both cases was different. In one case, left thoracotomy was performed, after which the ligamentum arteriosum was divided, and an adenoma anterior to the left main bronchus and posterior to the left pulmonary artery removed. In the other case, two metastatic tumors of parathyroid carcinoma anterior to the right main bronchus and posterior to the right pulmonary artery were resected through a median sternotomy and opening of the pericardium.     

Thoracoscopy: the preferred method for excision of mediastinal parathyroids

Mediastinal exploration to resect ectopic parathyroid is required in approximately 2% of all cases of hyperparathyroidism. Traditionally, it has been performed through a midsternotomy or thoracotomy. A few reports about thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal parathyroid were published recently. We report here successful video-assisted thoracoscopic resection (VATS) of a mediastinal parathyroid and present a review of all previously reported cases. A 42-year-old woman presented with spontaneous fracture of the left femur and hypercalcemia. She had previously undergone cervical parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and a technetium scan showed ectopic mediastinal parathyroid. The patient underwent successful thoracoscopic resection of ectopic parathyroid. A total of 26 patients were reviewed, 21 in the English literature and 5 in others. Of the 21 patients reported in the English literature, 16 had primary hyperparathyroidism (1 degrees HPT), whereas 5 had secondary hyperparathyroidism (2 degrees HPT). All but 3 patients had undergone previous cervical exploration. Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid was localized preoperatively in all by CT scans of the chest and nuclear scans. All 21 patients had successful thoracoscopic resection. All but 3 had parathyroid adenoma. Postoperatively, serum calcium (Ca ), phosphate (PO4 ), and parathormone (PTH) values returned to normal in all patients. Age and sex of the patient, type of hyperparathyroidism (1 degrees or 2 degrees ), size of the gland, its location within the anterior mediastinum, the approach used to resect it (right or left thoracoscopic), and final histopathology of the resected gland (adenoma or hyperplasia) had no bearing on the success of thoracoscopic resection. The data seem to suggest that thoracoscopic resection of mediastinal parathyroid is a less-invasive, effective, and safe procedure. Accurate preoperative anatomic localization by CT and nuclear scans of the chest is the key to success.     

Mid-mediastinal parathyroid lesions: preoperative localization and surgical approach in two cases

Although hyperfunctioning mediastinal parathyroid lesions that require median sternotomy or thoracotomy for removal are occasionally present, the majority are located in the anterior mediastinum closely associated with the thymus. Only eight cases of ectopic hyperfunctioning parathyroid tumors in the middle mediastinum have been reported. We experienced two cases of either persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism in which abnormal parathyroid tissue was located in the aorticopulmonary window. One of the patients had a parathyroid adenoma and the other had metastatic lesions of parathyroid carcinoma. In both cases, thallium scanning proved useful in identifying the lesions while computed tomography scan was effective for mediastinal three-dimensional localization. In one case, single photon emission computed tomography imaging with thallium proved beneficial for both identification and localization of the middle mediastinal lesion. The surgical approach used in both cases was different. In one case, left thoracotomy was performed, after which the ligamentum arteriosum was divided, and an adenoma anterior to the left main bronchus and posterior to the left pulmonary artery removed. In the other case, two metastatic tumors of parathyroid carcinoma anterior to the right main bronchus and posterior to the right pulmonary artery were resected through a median sternotomy and opening of the pericardium.     

Intrathymic parathyroid adenoma

Intrathymic parathyroid adenoma is a rare cause of persistent primary hyperparathyroidism. We encountered a case of intrathymic parathyroid adenoma, detected by computed tomographic scan and confirmed by Technetium-99 (Tc-99) Sestamibi scan and histology. The surgical approach included a median sternotomy and a large intrathymic parathyroid adenoma was identified and excised through the sternotomy. In this case, Tc-99 Sestamibi scan successfully localized a persistant abnormal tracer uptake in the mediastinum suggestive of mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Although not recommended for routine preoperative evaluation, scintigraphy can be useful in the preoperative localization of ectopic parathyroid adenomas.     

Localization of abnormal parathyroid glands using thallium-201

Ectopically located parathyroid adenomas may be difficult to find during initial neck exploration. They account for over 70 percent of missed adenomas found at reexploration. Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas would reduce unnecessary dissection and possibly reduce the number of negative results of initial neck exploration. Before reoperative parathyroid surgery is performed, some means of localization is mandatory to detect ectopic adenomas in the neck and mediastinum. Computed tomography and ultrasonography cannot effectively evaluate the mediastinum. Angiography and venous parathyroid hormone sampling are invasive, costly, and tedious to perform. We have shown that thallium-201 will accurately localize ectopic parathyroid adenomas. All 10 adenomas found in positions not immediately adjacent to the thyroid gland were detected by thallium-201 scintigraphy. One was a mediastinal adenoma resected with a median sternotomy. Our results suggest that thallium-201 scintigraphy should be the initial localization procedure of choice before all reexplorations. Its use before initial explorations, as well, will enable the surgeon to immediately direct attention to the area of the localized adenoma. If mediastinal uptake is found to be present, then median sternotomy may be performed during initial surgery provided a thorough neck exploration is performed first.     

Transcervical endoscopic-assisted mediastinal parathyroidectomy with intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring

Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas are rare lesions that typically necessitate either median sternotomy or thoracotomy. More recently, video-assisted thoracoscopy has been used to excise mediastinal parathyroid adenomas. Herein we describe a novel technique in which we used a minimally invasive transcervical endoscopic-assisted approach to excise an anterior mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in a young man with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax. Intraoperative parathormone monitoring confirmed the excision of all hypersecreting parathyroid tissue, thereby obviating the need for a conventional neck exploration.     

Mediastinal parathyroid adenomas. A cause of persistent hyperparathyroidism

Unrecognized mediastinal parathyroid adenomas that are inaccessible via a standard cervical exploration are an important cause of persistent primary hyperparathyroidism. Of 26 patients evaluated at UCLA Medical Center for persistent primary hyperparathyroidism, six required sternotomy (5) or thoracotomy (1) for cure of their disease. Analysis of these six patients suggests that aberrant embryologic development is the most logical explanation for the ectopic location of these mediastinal adenomas. In most instances, preoperative localization of the adenoma is possible. Permanent hypoparathyroidism occurs in a significant percentage of patients undergoing reoperative parathyroid surgery. Efforts to minimize postoperative morbidity should include a careful and systematic approach to the preoperative and intraoperative management of patients with mediastinal adenomas, as well as consideration of autotransplantation or cryopreservation of parathyroid tissue.     

Therapy of suspected intrathoracic parathyroid adenomas

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma as a cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) can normally be resected from conventional collar incision. In rare cases with adenomas deeper in the chest, a transthoracic approach is necessary. PATIENTS/METHODS: We report our experience of 19 patients with suspected mediastinal parathyroid adenomas from a total of 1035 patients with pHPT who were operated on between 1986 and 2000 using an open approach (sternotomy or thoracotomy) or video-assisted mediastinal or thoracoscopic surgery (VAMS/VATS). RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent an open approach with a success rate of 71% (10 of 14). Four patients remained hypercalcaemic. There were four complications in three patients: three permanent recurrent nerve palsies and one chylus fistula, requiring further surgery. VATS was successful in three of four patients with conversion to sternal splitting because of a false-negative frozen section in one patient. Another patient had parathyroid adenoma retrosternally which could not be resected by means of VAMS and had to be excised using a transsternal approach. There were no complications of minimal invasive procedures. All five patients were normocalcaemic after the operation. CONCLUSION: Ectopic parathyroid adenomas not resectable by means of a collar incision are rare causes of pHPT and comprise 1.25% of all patients with pHPT in our series. For these patients, VATS revealed an alternative to conventional open procedures. In questionable cases, however, the collar incision should precede the VATS procedure.     

Mediastinal parathyroid cysts revisited

BACKGROUND: A case of a functioning mediastinal cyst is presented. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature found 93 patients in whom a parathyroid cyst or cysts extended into, or was completely contained within, the mediastinum. Including our patient, there were 46 men and 45 women, and the gender was not recorded in three. RESULTS: The cysts were located in the anterosuperior region in 56 patients, in the middle region of the mediastinum in 26, and in the anterior, prevascular region in 12. Thirty-nine patients had functioning cysts associated with hyperparathyroidism of varying severity; seven patients presented with a hypercalcemic crisis. Local symptomatology consisted of a neck mass, respiratory distress, and occasional dysphagia or chest pain. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was present in nine patients, and innominate vein compression or thrombosis was present in two. The cysts in all but four patients were treated by open surgical excision; two were treated by thoracoscopy, and two patients only had fine-needle aspiration of the cyst. The cyst was excised via a cervical approach in 67 patients and by a thoracotomy or median sternotomy or a variation thereof in 23. There was no operative mortality and morbidity was minimal. CONCLUSION: Surgical resection was successful in all and remains the treatment of choice for mediastinal parathyroid cysts.     

One-gland exploration for mediastinal parathyroid adenomas: cervical and thoracoscopic approaches

BACKGROUND: In patients with sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization studies may discover a solitary mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. In this circumstance a 1-gland mediastinal exploration, either cervical or thoracoscopic, may be curative. METHODS: In an 18-month period, 5 of 120 consecutive patients underwent an initial 1-gland mediastinal exploration for a solitary mediastinal parathyroid adenoma and 2 patients had a 1-gland mediastinal exploration for persistent hyperparathyroidism. Clinical presentation, imaging studies, surgical techniques, and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: Sestamibi scans showed a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in all 7 patients. Computed tomography provided anatomic localization of middle mediastinal parathyroid adenomas. A cervical approach was used in 4 patients who had a superior mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. Thoracoscopic excision was performed in 3 patients with a middle mediastinal parathyroid adenoma. No complications occurred. Calcium and parathyroid hormone levels normalized in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism caused by a solitary mediastinal parathyroid adenoma can be treated successfully with 1-gland mediastinal exploration either by a cervical or a thoracoscopic approach as indicated by localization imaging.     

Surgical management of mediastinal goiter: risk factors for sternotomy

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mediastinal goiter constitutes an indication for surgical management. The procedure can most commonly be performed using the cervical access, but at times, a sternotomy or thoracotomy is necessary. The objective of the investigation was to analyze the prevalence and therapeutic results in patients with mediastinal goiter and to assess factors that affect the need of performing sternotomy in the course of mediastinal goiter surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the years 1984-2004, i.e., over 21 years, 11,849 patients with various types of goiter were operated on in the department. Mediastinal goiter was detected in 88 (0.76%) individuals. The analyzed material included 64 (72.7%) females and 24 (27.3%) males. The age of the patients ranged between 19 to 81 years, with the mean age of 61 +/- 13 years of life. The material was statistically analyzed. Risk factors for sternotomy were assessed using the multidimensional logistic regression method. RESULTS: The highest percentage of mediastinal goiter was noted in patients operated on due to recurrent goiter (3.86%). Goiter situated in the anterior mediastinum was noted in 61 (69.3%) individuals, while 27 (30.7%) patients demonstrated goiter located in the posterior mediastinum; of the latter, nine were previsceral and 18 retrovisceral. In the majority of cases, these were primarily cervical goiters, which descended from the neck to the mediastinum (53 patients). Aberrant adenomas were diagnosed in 32 (36.4%) individuals. Four patients presented with the superior cava vein syndrome. Primary goiters evaluated intraoperatively with blood supply originating from the mediastinal vessels were observed in 12 (13.6%) cases. In 27 (30.7%) patients, sternotomies were necessary. In the majority of cases, these were individuals with goiters showing additional blood supply originating from the mediastinal vessels, patients with aberrant adenomas in the mediastinum, especially in recurrent goiters, or else subjects with goiters situated in the posterior mediastinum as compared to anterior mediastinal goiters. No postoperative mortality during stay in a hospital was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical management of patients with mediastinal goiter is the therapeutic modality that requires considerable experience of the surgical team, performed in specialized centers, and appropriate preoperative diagnostic management. Statistically significant risk factors for sternotomy are as follows: recurrent goiter, primary mediastinal goiter, posterior mediastinal location of goiter, and the presence of an aberrant adenoma situated in the mediastinum.     

Minimal invasive surgery for resection of parathyroid tumor in the aortopulmonary window

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for parathyroid glands deep in the mediastinum is a safe and successful procedure, but its success depends on accurate localization before operation. Recently, a variety of minimally invasive techniques to approach cardiovascular disease have been proposed to eliminate the morbidity of standard sternotomy. We describe a case involving a 71-year-old woman with persistent hyperparathyroidism resulting from an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid gland, which was removed through an upper sternotomy. The technique has proved safe, effective, and aesthetically acceptable to the patient.     

Robotic thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy for persistent hyperparathyroidism: case report and review of the literature

Recurrent and persistent primary hyperparathyroidism remains a significant surgical challenge. Abnormal, hypersecreting parathyroid glands are found in ectopic locations in up to 15% to 20% of patients. A small portion of these ectopic glands will be found in the mediastinum at a location that precludes removal through the traditional cervical incision. Minimally invasive approaches to these glands are desirable because of the significant morbidity, pain, and hospital stay associated with sternotomy or thoracotomy. Recently, robotic approaches have been described for mediastinal parathyroids. We report a case of young woman with persistent primary hyperparathyroidism who was cured after undergoing robotic thoracoscopic mediastinal parathyroidectomy using radiooperative and intraoperative parathyroid hormone guidance.     

Day-case minimally invasive excision of a giant mediastinal parathyroid adenoma

Inferior parathyroid adenomas in the mediastinum can be a troublesome cause for hypercalcaemia, requiring a full collar incision or, occasionally, a sternotomy. We report a case of a giant parathyroid adenoma in a 61-year-old woman on warfarin, which we excised via a minimally invasive transcervical approach after radiological localisation. The procedure was performed as a day case and, at six weeks, the patient had recovered fully with biochemical resolution of hypercalcaemia. This case demonstrates that focused transcervical excision of giant parathyroid adenomas is a viable option and should be considered prior to neck exploration or sternotomy.     

An unusual recurrent bilateral posterior mediastinal goiter after subtotal thyroidectomy: Case report

INTRODUCTION

Surgical treatment of benign thyroid diseases need to be followed up closely, since recurrent thyroid nodules can be seen after subtotal thyroidectomy. Intrathoracic goiter (ITG) occurs in 10–30% of patients following subtotal thyroidectomy. In general these goiters are benign, having a malignant rate of only 2–22%. ITG grows slowly but steadily and in its process of development, it narrows the thoracic inlet by compressing the surrounding structures. Most of these can not located in the anterior mediastinum, others located in posterior retrovascular area. Bilateral posterior retrovascular goiters are very rare.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case involving a 61-year-old woman with history of gradual-onset dyspnea who was referred to us for evaluation of a large mediastinal mass. She had undergone bilateral thyroid lobectomy for a cervical goiter 10 years ago. The mass was removed successfully via median sternotomy without complication. The patient recovered well and was discharged in 1 week.

DISCUSSION

Most anterior mediastinal goiters can be resected through a transcervical approach, but if those extending beyond the aortic arch into the posterior mediastinum are better dealt with by sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy.

CONCLUSION

Bilateral recurrent posterior mediastinal and retrovascular large goiters are better resected via sternotomy rather than lateral thoracotomy. The reason for that are the possibility of injury to large vascular structures and the difficulty of their management through lateral thoracotomy when cardiopulmonary bypass needed.     

Thoracoscopic resection of a giant mediastinal parathyroid cyst

Parathyroid cysts are a rare situation, unusually in the mediastinum. The preoperative diagnosis could be more difficult in some atypical topographies and imaging characteristics in particular in case of huge mediastinal cyst. In the following years traditionally, in case of intrathoracic parathyroid cysts, sternotomy or thoracotomy have been the preferred approaches. We report a case of an older patient with a huge mediastinal parathyroid cyst removed successfully using videothoracoscopy.     

Thoracoscopic resection of a mediastinal intrathymic parathyroid adenoma

Mediastinal parathyroid adenomas and thymomas can be resected via a transcervical approach, median sternotomy, or less invasive surgical option of video-assisted thoracoscopic resection and more recently by way of the da Vinci robot. We present a case of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in a 55-year-old female with primary hyperparathyroidism. MRI also confirmed a mediastinal adenoma localized on sestamibi scan. Significant laboratory values were elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) of 171 pg/mL (normal range = 15 to 65 pg/mL) and calcium of 11.6 mg/dL (normal range = 8.5 to 10.5 mg/dL). Inability to hyperextend her neck due to cervical fusion made the transcervical approach unfavorable. To avoid a median sternotomy, we performed thoracoscopic resection of the adenoma via the left chest with the patient in a right lateral decubitus position. Three ports were placed; two in the anterior axillary line in the 4th and 6th intercostal spaces and one in the midaxillary line in the 5th intercostal space. Initial intraoperative PTH measurement was 192.9 pg/mL, and after adenoma removal the PTH level fell to 9 pg/mL. She was discharged home on postoperative day 1 without complications. At 3 months postprocedure, she remains asymptomatic with PTH and calcium levels within normal range. The 4 g, 2.4 cm intrathymic parathyroid adenoma had no evidence of malignancy. Thoracoscopic resection of an intrathymic parathyroid adenoma, a safe and less morbid alternative to median sternotomy, is an option when the transcervical approach is not viable.