title: [Zuckerkandl's tuberculum: could it be useful in thyroid surgery?].
abstract: A thorough knowledge of thyroid anatomy could reduce the incidence of lesions to the inferior laryngeal nerve. In view of its relationship with the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the parathyroid gland, Zuckerkandl's tuberculum should be considered an anatomical landmark for the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. The aim of the study was to verify whether the identification of Zuckerkandl's tuberculum could be useful to reduce the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve lesions. Four hundred and thirty-two patients underwent thyroid surgery over the period from January 2001 to December 2003 for benign (377 patients) or malignant disease (55 patients). Three-hundred and forty-eight (81%) underwent total thyroidectomy. Zuckerkandl's tuberculum was found in 74.5% of patients, with a high prevalence in the right lobe: in 5% of patients it was grade I, in 50% grade II and in 45% grade III. Its presence was associated with the recurrent laryngeal nerve in almost all cases. Eight of the patients undergoing total thyroidectomy suffered recurrent nerve paralysis, only 4 of which proved definitive. Identification of Zuckerkandl's tuberculum allows safer isolation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior parathyroid gland dissection.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, Trapianti d'Organo e Tecnologie Avanzate, Unità Operativa Clinicizzata di Endocrinochirurgia, PO San Luigi e Santi Currò, Catania.
authors.forename: Matteo Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallaro
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Pierfrancesco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marziani
authors.forename: Maria Concetta
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arcerito
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cannizzaro
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costanzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*