INTRATHYMIC PARATHYROID TISSUE IN MAN : CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND REPORT OF A CASE OF INTRATHYMIC PARATHYROID ADENOMA

摘要

The presence of parathyroid tissue within the thoracic thymus is not rare even in human beings. The authors have encountered such a finding in 18 out of 113 (15.9%) thymectomized adult cases via supra clavicular notch by Yoshimatsu's method. The intrathymic parathyroid tissue is well defined and encapsulated in most cases. However, on occasions, it is poorly defined or scattered and intermingled with thymic tissue thus being difficult to recognize. If, in case of hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia is not found anywhere, intrathymic parathyroid tissue should be suspected. The authors experienced one such rare case, which is reported in the present paper.