ARTERIA-THYROIDEA IMA ARISING FROM THE BRACHIOCEPHALIC TRUNK WITH BILATERAL ABSENCE OF INFERIOR THYROID ARTERIES - A CASE-REPORT

The anomalous first parts of the left and right subclavian aa. had no inferior thyroid aa. in the neck region. The thyroidea ima a. was foun d to arise from the brachiocephalic trunk, and bifurcated into two bra nches almost immediately after its origin. These branches ascended in front of the trachea and entered the bases of the right and left lobes of the thyroid gland. The left vertebral a. arose from the aortic arc h in the superior mediastinum. The possible existence of this anomaly is important for parathyroid localization studies, in neck surgery and especially in tracheostomy.