Superior Thyroid Cornu Anatomical Variation Causing Globus Pharyngeous and Dysphagia

• Main Authors: Jiannis K. Hajiioannou, Vasiliki Florou, Panagiotis Kousoulis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2010-01-01
• Series: Case Reports in Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/142928

Objective. Rare case presentation of thyroid cartilage variation causing globus sensation and dysphagia. Method. Case report and review of the literature concerning thyroid cartilage variant of clinical significance. Results. Middle-aged male patient presented with globus sensation and painful swallow without previous injury of the larynx. Clinical examination and diagnostic procedures revealed a rare anatomic aberrance of the thyroid cartilage. Surgical treatment was declined by the patient who accepted a yearly followup. Conclusion. Morphometric studies do not report the dislocation of the superior thyroid cornu, and very few cases have been described either of which were attributed to trauma or to unknown cause. The present case is to be added to the very few cases of superior thyroid cornu dislocation of unknown aetiology. Clinicians should be aware of this rare variation using CT neck as the imaging study of choice. Direct endoscopy rules out any synchronous disease or malignancies.