Aberrant Origin of the Right Inferior Thyroid Artery From the Common Carotid Artery Associated With Contralateral Absence.

Variations of the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) are clinically significant due to their close anatomical relationship with the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and their relevance in anterior neck surgery. During routine cadaveric dissection of a 67-year-old male donor, an unusual thyroid arterial configuration was identified. The right ITA (RITA) arose aberrantly from the right common carotid artery (CCA), while the left ITA was absent. An accessory right thyroid lobe was also present. The aberrant artery supplied the right lobe, the accessory lobe, and, through an extensive isthmic and interlobar arterial network, the left lobe, compensating for the absent contralateral ITA. The superior thyroid arteries exhibited a typical bilateral origin. This case highlights an extremely uncommon combination of thyroid arterial variations with important surgical implications. Preoperative computed tomography angiography may facilitate safe surgical planning.