Thyroid cartilage


Definition: Calcification of the thyroid cartilage.  Seen on pantomographs and lateral cephalometric skull radiographs.

Radiographic Features:

Location: Inferior to hyoid and anterior to cervical vertebrae.

Edge: Well-defined, smooth or irregular outline.

Shape: Will have same shape as thyroid viewed from lateral aspect.

Internal: Radiopaque border with radiolucent center to mixed radiopaque/radiolucent.

Other: None

Number: Single, as there is only one thyroid.

Thyroid cartilage

Thyroid cartilage – Lateral cephalometric skull radiograph

Thyroid cartilage – Pantomograph


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