Thyroid tubercle of Zuckerkandl: anatomical and surgical experience from 79 thyroidectomies

To highlight a poorly known anatomical variation of the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland, which can be useful in identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. We performed a three-year prospective study of 79 thyroid surgery patients. Great attention was paid to anatomical varia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2009-07, Vol.123 (7), p.768-771
Main Authors: Page, C, Cuvelier, P, Biet, A, Boute, P, Laude, M, Strunski, V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anatomy
Biological and medical sciences
Dissection
Female
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Identification
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neurological disorders
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Prospective Studies
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve - anatomy & histology
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve - surgery
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries
Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases
Surgery of endocrine glands
Surgical techniques
Thoracic surgery
Thyroid Diseases - surgery
Thyroid gland
Thyroid Gland - anatomy & histology
Thyroid Gland - innervation
Thyroid Gland - surgery
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroidectomy
Veins & arteries
Young Adult
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Description
Summary:To highlight a poorly known anatomical variation of the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland, which can be useful in identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. We performed a three-year prospective study of 79 thyroid surgery patients. Great attention was paid to anatomical variations of the thyroid gland (i.e. the presence or absence of a distinct tubercle of Zuckerkandl), the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the location of the parathyroid glands. A total of 71 right lobectomies and 74 left lobectomies were performed. Five tubercles of Zuckerkandl were identified (7.04 per cent of cases) and were useful in detecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve (but only on the right side). The tubercle of Zuckerkandl is a poorly known and variable anatomical feature of the thyroid gland which may not, in fact, be so rare. It arises for embryological reasons, and it can be a reliable anatomical landmark for identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve during thyroid surgery. It should be included in the Nomina Anatomica as the 'processus posterior glandulae thyroideae' described by Zuckerkandl.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215108004003