title: The middle thyroid vein: anatomical and surgical aspects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An issue that has been overlooked in medical literature concerns the prevalence and topographic relationships of the middle thyroid vein (MTV), which have been studied, with a prospective approach, in patients with various thyroid diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTV prevalence has been investigated in 394 consecutive lobes and a number of different variables (age, gender, thyroid pathology, gland weight) have been considered. Moreover, in cooperation with our Human Morphology Department, we brought to completion a dedicated anatomy report, with the clear objective of providing a detailed anatomic description of MTV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of MTV was 38% of the dissected lobes and 62% of operated patients. Most veins arise from the mid region of the thyroid lobe (80%): B, 3, and 2 positions in accordance with our scheme. As far as thyroid pathology is concerned, we found that the presence of MTV was more frequent in hyperthyroidism and large goiters (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of the anatomic variability in MTV may be useful not only to minimize the risk of bleeding, but it also can help to perform a more accurate dissection with the goal of preserving the laryngeal nerves and parathyroid glands, especially because of its location and relationships with other adjacent structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Endocrine Surgery Research Center, University of Insubria, Ospedale di Circolo-Polo Universitario, Viale Guicciardini, 21100, Varese, Italy. gianlorenzo.dionigi@uninsubria.it
authors.forename: Gianlorenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dionigi
authors.forename: Terenzio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Congiu
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rovera
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult