discussion-presentation21

• Approximately 6% of normal individuals have one or more of the glands sited in ectopic positions,
• occasionally there may be more than four glands.
• Ectopic glands can be found in a wide range of sites but most commonly are in the neck, thymus, carotid sheath and mediastinum.
• Glands at any of these sites may become autonomous.
• Up to one in five parathyroid glands may be located ectopically, and this is especially true of supernumerary glands. (williams 2017)