Zuckerkandl Tubercle Fixed -

Surgeons often use Pelizzo’s classification to grade the tubercle by size: Grade 0/I: Less than 0.5 cm. Grade II: Between 0.5 and 1 cm.

The Zuckerkandl tubercle is usually found at the junction of the cricoid cartilage and the inferior border of the thyroid gland, near the posterior border of the gland. It is typically located on the posterolateral aspect of the thyroid gland, but can also be found on the posterior aspect. The tubercle is usually 1-2 cm in size and is composed of thyroid tissue that is continuous with the rest of the gland. zuckerkandl tubercle

While ZT is a great landmark, a large Zuckerkandl tubercle can be a headache. If it is hypertrophied (enlarged, usually due to goiter or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis), it can wrap around the RLN, pushing the nerve into a "safety hazard" position. In some cases, the nerve actually penetrates through the tubercle. Surgeons often use Pelizzo’s classification to grade the

The Zuckerkandl tubercle can be visualized on imaging studies, such as: It is typically located on the posterolateral aspect

The Zuckerkandl tubercle also serves as a landmark for the superior parathyroid gland.