Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Hormones and Bone Tissue01:17

Hormones and Bone Tissue

The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones, which interact with the skeletal system. These hormones control bone growth, maintain bone once it is formed, and remodel it.
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
The Thyroid Gland01:23

The Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels.
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin00:51

Synthesis and Functions of Calcitonin

Calcitonin, a vital polypeptide hormone, regulates calcium levels within body fluids. It is released by the parafollicular cells, also known as C cells, situated in the follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland. Calcitonin responds to fluctuations in blood calcium levels and the influence of gastrointestinal hormones like gastrin and cholecystokinin.
The exact mechanisms by which calcitonin operates in calcium homeostasis remain elusive, but its significance is evident in several vital...
The Parathyroid Glands00:59

The Parathyroid Glands

The two pairs of parathyroid glands embedded within the posterior surface of the thyroid gland are restricted by a dense capsule around them. These glands comprise two distinct cell populations—parathyroid oxyphil and parathyroid principal cells- pivotal in calcium homeostasis.
Oxyphil cells, whose functions remain elusive, emerge during late puberty, adding a layer of complexity to the parathyroid gland's intricacies. In contrast, principal parathyroid cells undertake a vital role by producing...
Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction01:25

Hyperthyroidism I: Introduction

Hyperthyroidism is a type of thyrotoxicosis characterized by the thyroid gland's overproduction of the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). This hormone excess increases the basal metabolic rate and enhances sensitivity to catecholamines.DiagnosisDiagnosis is based on clinical features and biochemical testing. It typically shows suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels below 0.4 mIU/L, with elevated free T3 and/or T4. Additional tests, including thyroid...
Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology01:27

Hyperthyroidism II: Pathophysiology

Hyperthyroidism is a hypermetabolic state caused by elevated levels of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It results from dysregulation at the thyroid, pituitary, or immune system level and affects multiple organ systems.PathophysiologyThe most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies, specifically thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb), a subtype of TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb), bind to and activate TSH receptors...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Indicators for predicting continuous insulin infusion therapy-related hypokalemia: multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Endocrine journal·2026
Same author

Overlap syndrome between sarcoidosis and Sjögren's disease presenting as hypopituitarism: case report and review of literature.

Endocrine journal·2026
Same author

Large-Scale Production of Uniform, Small Adipocyte Spheroids in Hydrogel Microcapsules Using a Microfluidic Flow-Focusing Device.

ACS biomaterials science & engineering·2026
Same author

Insulinoma complicated with hypergastrinemia in a subject with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a case report.

Diabetology international·2026
Same author

A Case of Aspiration Pneumonia with Herpes Simplex Encephalitis in an Elderly Japanese Patient.

Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan)·2025
Same author

Significance of a Three-Missense Pathogenic Variant in the Substrate-Binding Lesion in a Subject With 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency: A Case Report.

Cureus·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation
07:13

Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation

Published on: March 14, 2017

14.7K

Ectopic PTH-producing parathyroid cyst inside the thymus: a case report.

Haruka Takenouchi1, Takatoshi Anno2, Ayaka Harada1

  • 1Department of General Internal Medicine 1, Kawasaki Medical School, 2-6-1 Nakasange, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8505, Japan.

BMC Endocrine Disorders
|December 21, 2022
PubMed
Summary

A rare ectopic parathyroid cyst in the thymus caused hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia. Surgical removal of this mediastinal cyst normalized parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and resolved hypercalcemia.

Keywords:
Ectopic parathyroid glandsHypercalcemiaHyperparathyroidismMediastinal tumorPTH

More Related Videos

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
13:43

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm

Published on: June 17, 2018

7.5K
Procurement of Parathyroid Glands from Living Donor Pigs and Ex Vivo Identification
08:07

Procurement of Parathyroid Glands from Living Donor Pigs and Ex Vivo Identification

Published on: August 1, 2025

438

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation
07:13

Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation

Published on: March 14, 2017

14.7K
Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
13:43

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm

Published on: June 17, 2018

7.5K
Procurement of Parathyroid Glands from Living Donor Pigs and Ex Vivo Identification
08:07

Procurement of Parathyroid Glands from Living Donor Pigs and Ex Vivo Identification

Published on: August 1, 2025

438

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Surgical Pathology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Hyperparathyroidism is characterized by elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) leading to hypercalcemia.
  • While PTH-related protein causes hypercalcemia in malignancy, primary PTH-producing tumors are rare.
  • Ectopic parathyroid tissue and glands are difficult to diagnose due to embryological complexity and lack of clear histopathological criteria.

Observation:

  • A 57-year-old woman presented with hypercalcemia and elevated PTH levels, but no enlarged parathyroid glands.
  • 99mTc-MIBI indicated a localized, slightly hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in the anterior mediastinum, atypical for parathyroid tissue.
  • Venous sampling confirmed ectopic PTH production, leading to the diagnosis of a cyst-like tumor in the anterosuperior mediastinum.

Findings:

  • Histopathological examination revealed an ectopic parathyroid cyst within the thymus.
  • The cyst fluid contained extremely high intact-PTH levels (19,960,000 pg/mL).
  • Resection of the mediastinal thymus and ectopic parathyroid cyst successfully decreased calcium and intact-PTH levels.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering ectopic parathyroid cysts within the thymus in the superior mediastinum.
  • Careful diagnosis, considering both positive and negative 99mTc-MIBI findings, is crucial for superior mediastinal cysts.
  • Histological examination is key for confirming ectopic PTH-producing parathyroid glands, especially when cyst fluid demonstrates significantly elevated intact-PTH levels, leading to hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia.