Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Trans-oral robotic surgical excision of an ectopic parathyroid adenoma
Matthew M Smith1, William G Young2, Arthur M Carlin3
1Department of Otolaryngology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, USA. msmith29@hfhs.org.
Background:
The pyriform sinus is a potential location for ectopic parathyroid tissue and we describe the use of trans-oral robotic to excise the ectopic tissue.
Methods:
A 55-year-old female presented with primary hyperparathyroidism. 4D computed tomography and Sestimibi scan revealed a 1.2 × 0.7 cm mass in the left pyriform sinus. Using the da Vinci SI robot, a 1 cm hypopharyngeal incision was made with electrocautery in the left pyriform sinus and used to excise the mass.
Results:
Ectopic mass was removed via trans-oral robotic approach and final pathology confirmed parathyroid tissue. Parathyroid hormone level dropped from 135.8 to 13.3 pg/ml 15 min after excision of the mass.
Conclusion:
Ectopic parathyroid tissue can present in many different areas of the neck, with the pyriform sinus being a potential location. The trans-oral robotic parathyroidectomy confers the advantage of the lack of an external incision for removal of ectopic parathyroid adenoma.
