The Superior Thyroid Artery Arising from the Common Carotid Artery in Thai : A case Report

Abstract

Background : The superior thyroid artery supplies the thyroid gland.  It usually arises from the proximal part of the external carotid artery.  However, the rare incidence of the superior thyroid arising from the common carotid artery have have reported.  There was no reported in Thai.

Objective : To study the anatomy of the superior thyroid artery that aries from the common carotid artery in Thai.

Results : Dissection of a 57 year old Thai male cadaver from 64 cadavers was revealed that the  left superior thyroid artery arose from medial side of the left common carotid artery.  It was 26.95 millimeters below to the bifurcation of the common carotid artery.  Results from dissection of this artery showed that this artery ran downward and forward without any branches.  At 5 millimeters distal to the origin this artery divided into 2 branches as anterior and posterior branches which each branch descended to anterior and posterior surface of the upper part of the thyroid gland, respectively.

Conclusions : This report has emphasized that the superior thyroid artery arose from the common carotid artery.  The surgeon should be aware of this during surgery of the thyroid gland.