Lateral approach for exploration of the parathyroid gland

The common use of automated metabolic screening has led to the early discovery of many patients with hyperparathyroidism and an increase in the number of operations performed upon the parathyroid glands. Approaching the parathyroid glands and the posterior aspect of the thyroid lateral to the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles has facilitated surgical exploration of these structures and has increased the rate of success of these operations. This approach has been used with 100 per cent success in 67 of 117 operations performed for hyperparathyroidism since 1973.