title: Unilateral occurrence of five different thyroid arteries-a need of terminological systematization: a case report.
abstract: This article highlights an unusual and unilateral variation in the blood supply to the inferior portion of the thyroid gland observed on the right lobe during anatomy dissection course. The rare variation of the occurrence of two anomalous arteries: the middle thyroid artery and the aberrant accessory inferior thyroid artery, and one uncommon variant, the thyroid ima artery, was detected in an adult female cadaver. The two generally constant arteries, the superior thyroid artery and the inferior thyroid artery, have been found in their usual anatomical location. Both the middle thyroid artery and aberrant accessory inferior thyroid artery arose from the right common carotid artery. The middle thyroid artery coursed as a very short branch ventromedially to enter the inferior lateral portion of the right lobe of the thyroid gland. It was at the same level, in which the inferior thyroid artery reached the lateral border of the thyroid gland. The aberrant accessory inferior thyroid artery originated similarly, from the ventromedial surface of the right common carotid artery and passed to supply the inferior pole of the right lobe. The thyroid ima artery was found to arise from the brachiocephalic trunk, entering the isthmus of the thyroid gland. Information about the embryological background might be helpful to clarify why such a type of variation occurs. It is necessary to understand the possible existence of this anomaly, to carry out successful radical neck dissection and to minimize the risk of postoperative complications in patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 80, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Kvetuse
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lovasova
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 3, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic. david.kachlik@lfmotol.cuni.cz.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kachlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Health Care, Faculty of Health, Catholic University of Ruzomberok, Namestie A. Hlinku 48, 034 01, Ruzomberok, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santa
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 80, Kosice, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Darina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kluchova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: Aberrant accessory inferior thyroid artery; Middle thyroid artery; Terminology; Thyroid ima artery; Variations