Lateral endoscopic parathyroidectomy in children

Endoscopic thyroid and parathyroid surgery was first described by Gagner in 1996, and Henry subsequently proposed a lateral endoscopic approach in 1999. Technical progress in the fields of optics, endoscopy, digital imaging and laparoscopy has gradually enhanced the feasibility and clinical utility of this technique for the treatment of benign and malignant lesions. To date, published paediatric cases have only concerned thyroid surgery. In the light of two clinical cases, this article describes our lateral endoscopic approach applied to paediatric parathyroid surgery.