Hyperparathyroid crisis and posterior mediastinal parathyroid adenoma: a case for preoperative localization

Hyperparathyroid crisis is a rare, life-threatening condition that requires prompt removal of the involved parathyroid gland(s). This report describes a patient with hyperparathyroid crisis caused by a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma, which was localized before operation and removed at the initial operation, without neck exploration. Surgical approaches to hyperparathyroid crisis and the importance of preoperative localization studies are discussed.