title: Ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the soft palate: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ectopic parathyroid adenomas can occur in numerous anatomic locations. While ectopic parathyroid adenomas can rarely occur in the pharyngeal region, this has not previously been described in the soft palate.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the first case of ectopic parathyroid adenoma within the soft palate. A 59 year old woman presented with hyperparathyroidism. She remained persistently hyperparathyroid after initial parathyroidectomy. Repeat exploration for a lesion suspicious on PET-CT for an ectopic parathyroid adenoma in the parapharyngeal region was unsuccessful in treating the hyperparathyroidism. An ectopic adenoma in the soft palate was eventually discovered. Removal through a transoral approach was successful in treating the hyperparathyroidism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ectopic parathyroid adenomas can occur in various anatomical locations that may be missed even with the use of the various imaging modalities. The soft palate should be added to the list of possible ectopic locations high in the neck.
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel St., 4th floor Otolaryngology (ENT), Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada. brent.a.chang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of British Columbia, 2775 Laurel St., 4th floor Otolaryngology (ENT), Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
authors.forename: Donald W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D002828:Choristoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016105:Parathyroidectomy; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
keywords: Case report; Ectopic; Hyperparathyroidism; Parathyroid adenoma