Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association of high carotid bifurcation and thyrolinguofacial trunk: a rare variation

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Anatomical Science International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Variations in the origins and the branching pattern of the carotid system of arteries are not uncommon. Here we report a rare case of higher bifurcation of the common carotid artery (CCA) (at the level of the greater cornu of the hyoid bone), thyrolinguofacial trunk (TLFT) originating from the CCA, superior laryngeal artery (SLA) arising from the external carotid artery (ECA) on the left side, and linguofacial trunk arising from the ECA on the right side. In the present case, the CCA and carotid bifurcation may have arisen from the second aortic arch. The ECA bud could have developed from parts of the first aortic arch and ventral aorta. Thus, the altered blood flow through these vessels due to high carotid bifurcation could have caused disproportionate growth and shift in the origins of the branches of the ECA. An understanding of the bifurcation of the CCA and the branching pattern of the ECA should prove useful to surgeons performing selective intra-arterial chemotherapy for head and neck cancer.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cappabianca S, Scuotto A, Iaselli F, Pignatelli N, Urraro F, Sarti G (2012) Computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography in the evaluation of aberrant origin of the external carotid artery branches. Surg Radiol Anat 34:393–399

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cvetko E (2014) Thyrolinguofacial trunk arising from the carotid bifurcation determined by cadaver dissection. Anat Sci Int 89(4):246–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gluncic V, Petanjek Z, Marusic A, Gluncic I (2001) High bifurcation of common carotid artery, anomalous origin of ascending pharyngeal artery and anomalous branching pattern of external carotid artery. Surg Radiol Anat 23(2):123–125

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi N, Hori E, Ohtani Y (2005) Surgical anatomy of the cervical carotid artery for carotid endarterectomy. Neurol Med Chir 45:25–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iimura A, Oguchi T, Yamazaki Y, Matsuo M, Yi SQ, Itoh M (2010) Anomalous bifurcation and island formation of the carotid artery. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn 86(4):121–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kishve P (2011) An unusual branching pattern of common and external carotid artery in a human cadaver: a case report. Australas Med J 4(4):180–182

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Klosek SK, Rungruang T (2008) Topography of carotid bifurcation: considerations for neck examination. Surg Radiol Anat 30(5):383–387

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Natsis K, Raikos A, Foundos I, Noussios G, Lazaridis N, Njau SN (2011) Superior thyroid artery origin in Caucasian Greeks: a new classification proposal and review of the literature. Clin Anat 24(6):699–705

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozgur Z, Govsa F, Ozgur T (2008) Anatomic evaluation of the carotid artery bifurcation in cadavers: implications for open and endovascular therapy. Surg Radiol Anat 30(6):475–480

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rusu MC, Nimigean V, Banu MA, Cergan R, Niculescu V (2007) The morphology and topography of the superior laryngeal artery. Surg Radiol Anat 29:653–660

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Terayama N, Sanada J, Matsui O, Kobayashi S, Kawashima H, Yamashiro M, Tanaka T, Kumano T, Yoshizaki T, Furukawa M (2006) Feeding artery of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers: role of the superior thyroid artery in superselective intraarterial chemotherapy. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 29:536–543

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams P (1995) Gray’s anatomy, 38th edn. Churchill Livingstone, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zümre Ö, Salbacak A, Çiçekcibaşi AE, Tuncer I, Seker M (2005) Investigation of the bifurcation level of the common carotid artery and variations of the branches of the external carotid artery in human fetuses. Ann Anat 187(4):361–369

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College and Hospital, Puducherry, 605107, India

    Suresh Narayanan & Senthil Murugan

Authors
  1. Suresh Narayanan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Senthil Murugan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Dr. SN dissected the left neck of the cadaver and prepared the manuscript. Mr. SM dissected the right neck of the cadaver and took photographs.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Suresh Narayanan.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Narayanan, S., Murugan, S. Association of high carotid bifurcation and thyrolinguofacial trunk: a rare variation. Anat Sci Int 93, 307–310 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-017-0405-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-017-0405-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation