Open AccessVariant Branching Pattern of Superior Thyroid Artery and Its Clinical Relevance: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Rohini Motwani,
Saroj Kaler Jhajhria
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of clinical and diagnostic research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2249-782X
pISSN - 0973-709X
DOI - 10.7860/jcdr/2015/12956.6065
Subject(s) - superior thyroid artery , medicine , thyroid , inferior thyroid artery , common carotid artery , thyroid cartilage , trunk , anatomy , external carotid artery , dissection (medical) , artery , right common carotid artery , cadaver , carotid arteries , radiology , internal carotid artery , surgery , recurrent laryngeal nerve , larynx , biology , ecology
Thyroid surgeries are most common neck surgeries; hence thorough knowledge of the blood supply of this gland to the surgeons is of immense importance to prevent any alarming haemorrhage. We report a rare unilateral branching pattern of superior thyroid artery (STA) on right side during routine dissection on an adult male cadaver in the Department of Anatomy, A.I.I.M.S, New Delhi. Left superior thyroid artery was normal. The common trunk (CT) arose from anterior surface of right external carotid artery (ECA) just above the bifurcation of common carotid artery (CCA) soon dividing into five branches i.e., infrahyoid, superior laryngeal, superior thyroid, cricothyroid and sternocleidomastoid artery. This variant branching pattern of STA is very rare. The inferior thyroid arteries did not show any unusual distribution. Knowledge of such arterial variations related to the thyroid gland is immensely helpful to the surgeons to avoid damage of the vital organs in this region.