Suspicious Structure is Triticeous - A Case Report

The superior horn of thyroid cartilage is more fragile and more vulnerable than greater horn of hyoid bone and hence its fracture is common due to the local pressure. Triticeous cartilages are a normal variant and are little nodules embedded in the thyrohyoid ligament above the superior horn1. The medico-legal experts should make a mental note of this anatomical variant in cases of fatal neck compression.

The present case report is booked U/S 302, 201 IPC. Specimen of a neck structure was sent for an expert opinion from a Medical Officer to rule out if the fracture was ante-mortem or postmortem. On gross examination of the specimen it contained the thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and one tracheal ring. The specimen was sent to radiological examination and was suspected to have a fracture of left superior horn of thyroid cartilage. On dissection, at the end of left superior horn there was a small cartilaginous nodule. So, for confirmation the specimen was sent for histopathological examination but the report revealed no evidence of fracture or haemorrhage.