Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2019, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (1): 107-109.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2019.01.022

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The significance of Zuckerkandl’s tubercel in thyroid surgery

LIU Jia-feng   

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical College, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi Province, China
  • Received:2018-07-24 Published:2019-02-20

Abstract:

Objective To study the occurrence rate of tubercle of Zuckerkandl (ZT) in thyroid surgery and the anatomic relationship between ZT and recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN) and superior parathyroid gland (SPG). Methods Data of 120 patients with thyroid tumor underwent unilateral or bilateral thyroid gland lobe resection in the department of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery of the first affiliated hospital of Gannan medical college between December 2016 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. One hundred and forty six glandular lobes were recorded, ZT was analyzed and the size of ZT was measured. The relationship between ZT and recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior parathyroid gland was observed. Results ZT was identified in 76 cases (63.3%) of patients and its longest diameter was >1 cm in 54 cases (45.0%). In 87 cases (92.6%) of patients with an enlarged ZT, the RLN laid medial to it and the nerve was found lateral to the ZT in 7 cases (7.4%). The SPG was usually cranial to the ZT and posterior to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Conclusions ZT is a distinct feature of the thyroid gland that can be recognized during most thyroidectomies. The size and position of the ZT have no constant relationship to preoperative symptoms. An understanding of the consistent anatomical relationship between the ZT and RLN and SPG is crucial for safe thyroidectomy.

Key words: Zuckerkandl’s tubercle; , Parathyroid gland;  , Recurrent laryngeal nerve;  , Thyroidectomy