Prevalence and features of triticea cartilage in an autopsy sample of tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

Introduction

Triticea cartilage is a grain like cartilage situated just above the tips of the superior thyroid horns. Inexperienced medical officers could mistake this incidental finding for a fracture and thereby an evidence of pressure on the neck.

Objective

This study was designed to find the prevalence of the Triticea cartilage in an autopsy sample in the Kurunegala District of Sri Lanka and if present to ascertain its size and shape.

Methodology

All autopsies performed by the author during the last four months of the year 2011 were included in to this research.

Results

The sample studied included 182 males and 67 females (n=249). In males triticea cartilage was present in 101 (55.5 %) cases, of which cartilages were present bilaterally in 76 (41.2%). Unilateral cartilage on the left side was found in 12 (6.5%) of the males and on the right side in 13(7.1%) cases. Site was just above the tip of the thyroid cartilage in 94 (93%) cases. Spherical shape of the cartilage was observed in 80(79.3%) and elongated shape in 21(20.7%) cases. Triticea cartilage was present in 24(35.8%) of females of which cartilages were present bilaterally in14(20.8%). Unilateral cartilage on the left side was found in 7(10.5%) of the females and on the right side in 3(4.5%). Commonest site was just above the tip of thyroid cartilage in 23 (95.8%) cases. Spherical shape in 21(87.5%) cases and 3 (12.5%) cases cartilage was elongated.

Conclusion

This study showed that 50.2% (half) of the autopsy population has the triticea cartilage. 36.1% (One third) of population has it on both sides. More than three quarter (80.8%) of triticea cartilages are spherical in shape. 92.8% of triticea cartilages were found just above the tip of superior thyroid horn.

Medico-Legal Journal of Sri Lanka 2014; 2(1) : 1-4