An incidental finding of the accessory inferior thyroid artery

Author(s): Jiri Sedy*

We report a case of an incidental finding of the right accessory inferior thyroid artery, emerging from the thyrocervical trunk together with a typical inferior thyroid artery, present in a normal position. On the left side, only single inferior thyroid artery was present. Only one inferior thyroid vein was found on each side. The accessory inferior thyroid artery entered the thyroid gland approximately 1 cm above the normal inferior thyroid, above the superior parathyroid gland. Although accessory vessels of thyroid gland are present in about 5% of cases, the accessory inferior thyroid artery, emerging from subclavian artery and located above the normal inferior thyroid artery, is very rare.

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