[Parathyroid adenoma at an atypical site, ectopic or not]

Of 800 patients undergoing operation for primary hyperparathyroidism between 1960 and 1985, 163 presented parathyroid adenomas located in other than typical sites in normal parathyroid glands. A retrospective study of case-reports is used to demonstrate the value of complementary investigations in the localization of these lesions, and to emphasize certain operative factors indispensable for their detection.