A Rare Case of Thyroidea Ima Arising From the Internal Thoracic Artery and Reaching Up to the Parathyroid Gland

Abstract

The thyroidea ima artery (TIA), also known as the Neubauer artery, is a variable artery that takes part in the blood supply of the thyroid gland. The overall prevalence rate of the thyroidea ima artery is 3.3%. Though it most commonly branches off the brachiocephalic trunk or the arch of the aorta, the artery has a highly variable origin point. Herein, we present a rare case of a thyroidea ima originating from the left internal thoracic artery, found during routine dissection of a Caucasian, 76-year-old, male, formalin-fixed cadaver. The artery is a normal finding during embryological development as a part of a more extensive network of vessels supplying the thyroid gland. The latter undergoes significant remodeling, and only four superior and inferior thyroid arteries remain. Thus, the presence of the thyroidea ima is considered to be due to changes in the said remodeling process. Due to its course, anteriorly to the trachea, the thyroidea ima artery might pose problems during different surgical procedures regarding the inner anterior region of the neck, such as tracheotomy, thyroidectomy, laryngeal transplantation, and selective embolization of the thyroid arteries (SETA). Furthermore, complications during the operative treatment of parathyroid conditions and mediastinal bleeding are to be expected. The variable presence and origin of the thyroidea ima have clear and significant clinical and surgical implications. They must be considered when procedures in the neck's anterior region occur.