title: Variations of the middle thyroid vein in Papua New Guinean Melanesians.
abstract: The middle thyroid vein has been noted to be frequently absent during thyroidectomies in Papua New Guinea (PNG). To verify this and other known inconsistencies in the neck a total of 103 bodies were dissected at the Port Moresby General Hospital in 2002. The middle thyroid vein was absent in 59% of the cases. It would be to the advantage of surgeons in PNG to be aware of this.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Kavieng General Hospital, PO Box 68, Kavieng, New Ireland Province 631, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Damien Joseph
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hasola
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gende
authors.forename: Osborne
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Liko
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology