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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 November 2008

C Page ,
P Cuvelier ,
A Biet ,
P Boute ,
M Laude  and
V Strunski
C Page*
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, France
P Cuvelier
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, France
A Biet
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, France
P Boute
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, France
M Laude
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Jules Verne University of Picardie, Amiens, France
V Strunski
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgery, Amiens University Hospital, France
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Cyril Page, CHU d'Amiens, Hôpital Nord, Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, F-80054 Amiens Cédex, France. E-mail: cyril.page@caramail.com
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Abstract

Objective:

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.

Materials and methods:

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.

Results:

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).

Conclusion:

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.

Keywords

Thyroid SurgeryThyroidectomyRecurrent Laryngeal NerveAnatomy
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 7 , July 2009 , pp. 768 - 771
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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