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

Abstract

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.