Ectopic Mediastinal Parathyroid Adenoma in a Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Case Report

ABSTRACT

We report an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma in a patient with chronic kidney disease who presented with refractory hypercalcemia. Technetium-99m-sestamibi scintigraphy is a valuable imaging technique for the detection of an ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the mediastinum. The combination of intense contrast enhancement and the identification of a polar vessel on a computed tomography scan will ensure that a radiologist can differentiate a parathyroid adenoma from other pathologies in the mediastinum. By virtue of the advancement of imaging modalities, localization of an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma prior to surgery is possible and unnecessary neck exploration is avoidable.