Variant Branching Pattern of Superior Thyroid Artery and Its Clinical Relevance: A Case Report

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• surgical anatomy
• thyroid gland
• variations