Retropharyngeal course of the superior thyroid artery - a novel finding.

IF 1.4 4区医学 Q2 Medicine

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Pub Date : 2025-04-03 DOI:10.1007/s00276-025-03627-7

Rodica Narcisa Calotă, Mugurel Constantin Rusu, Cătălin Constantin Dumitru, Liliana Moraru, Răzvan Costin Tudose

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: The anatomical variables of the superior thyroid artery (STA) are well-studied. It typically leaves the external carotid artery (ECA) and descends on the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle to reach the thyroid lobe. We serendipitously found a novel possibility: the bilateral retropharyngeal course of the STA, which we report here.

Method: The case was found while studying the archived angioCT file of a 56-year-old male.

Results: The right carotid bifurcation (CB) was in the coronal plane at 3.3 mm inferior to the greater horn of the hyoid bone (GHHB). The initial segment of the ECA was medial to the GHHB. The origin of the right STA was at 2.7 cm medial to the GHHB greater hyoid horn from the anterior side of the ECA. The left CB was at 2.5 mm posterior to the left hyoid tubercle. It was oriented sagittally oblique, with the left ECA antero-medially to the left ICA. The left STA arose from the medial side of the ECA at 5.6 mm postero-superior to the hyoid tubercle. Each STA descended medially to the GHHB and, further, the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage on that side. At the root of the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage, each STA turned laterally between the common carotid artery and the posterior margin of the lamina of the thyroid cartilage and continued to the thyroid lobe on that side. Thus, both STAs coursed posteriorly to the pyriform recess of the hypopharynx on that side.

Conclusion: Finding bilateral STAs is extraordinary but possible. Such extremely rare variants can be accurately identified during preoperative angioCT scans.

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甲状腺上动脉咽后走行-一个新发现。

目的：甲状腺上动脉（STA）的解剖变量已被充分研究。它通常离开颈外动脉（ECA），经咽下收缩肌下降到达甲状腺叶。我们偶然发现了一种新的可能性：STA 的双侧咽后走向，并在此报告：该病例是在研究一名 56 岁男性的血管造影（angioCT）档案时发现的：结果：右侧颈动脉分叉（CB）位于舌骨大角（GHHB）下 3.3 毫米处的冠状面上。ECA 的起始段位于舌骨大角的内侧。右侧 STA 的起源位于 ECA 前侧 GHHB 舌骨大角内侧 2.7 厘米处。左侧 CB 位于左侧舌骨结节后方 2.5 毫米处。它呈矢状斜向，左 ECA 位于左 ICA 的前内侧。左侧 STA 起自 ECA 的内侧，位于舌骨结节后上方 5.6 mm 处。每个 STA 都向内侧延伸至 GHHB，并进一步延伸至该侧甲状软骨的上角。在甲状软骨上角的根部，每条STA都在颈总动脉和甲状软骨薄片后缘之间向侧方转向，并一直延伸到该侧的甲状腺叶。因此，两条STA均向后方延伸至该侧下咽的梨状凹处：结论：发现双侧STA是非常罕见的，但也是可能的。这种极其罕见的变异可以在术前血管CT扫描中准确识别。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Medicine-Pathology and Forensic Medicine

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

14.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Anatomy is a morphological science which cannot fail to interest the clinician. The practical application of anatomical research to clinical problems necessitates special adaptation and selectivity in choosing from numerous international works. Although there is a tendency to believe that meaningful advances in anatomy are unlikely, constant revision is necessary. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, the first international journal of Clinical anatomy has been created in this spirit. Its goal is to serve clinicians, regardless of speciality-physicians, surgeons, radiologists or other specialists-as an indispensable aid with which they can improve their knowledge of anatomy. Each issue includes: Original papers, review articles, articles on the anatomical bases of medical, surgical and radiological techniques, articles of normal radiologic anatomy, brief reviews of anatomical publications of clinical interest. Particular attention is given to high quality illustrations, which are indispensable for a better understanding of anatomical problems. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy is a journal written by anatomists for clinicians with a special interest in anatomy.