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.