Levator glandulae thyroideae, a fibromusculoglandular band with absence of pyramidal lobe and its innervation: a case report.

Amongst the endocrine glands, thyroid gland is well known for its developmental anomalies, which range from common to rare ones. The presence of levator glandulae thyroideae and its anatomical variations gain importance in the pathologies which are related to thyroid gland and their treatment modalities. Levator glandulae thyroideae is a fibromuscular band. If it is present, it is usually seen on the left side, to connect the pyramidal lobe of thyroid gland and the hyoid bone. But levator glandulae thyroideae which stretches from isthmus to the body of hyoid bone is rare and only very few cases have been reported in the medical literature. During a routine dissection of the thyroid gland in a 55 years old male cadaver, a Levator Glandulae Thyroideae (which was fibromusculoglandular in nature) was seen, with the absence of pyramidal lobe on the left side. It directly came from upper border of isthmus and went upto hyoid bone. It also had innervation from branches of external laryngeal nerve. This was also associated with absence of superior thyroid artery on the same side. The knowledge on various developmental anomalies of the gland and variations in neurovascular relations will help the surgeons in plan thyroid surgeries in a better and safe way.