The incidence of the foramen thyroideum in Turkish population.

This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence and characteristics of the foramen thyroideum (FT) in Turkish population. A total of 50 cadaver specimens were dissected which were a randomly selected sample of population from the criminal laboratory of the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Justice (Istanbul). Larynges were dissected with a surgical SMZ 10 Nikon stereomicroscope. Six of the 50 specimens dissected had distinctly identifiable foramina with neurovascular component. One specimen had bilateral foramina, five specimens had unilateral foramina, and two had it in the left side, three in the right. One specimen had a double foramen in the left side. All of them were male and contained neurovascular components. Our data showed 12% incidence of FT in Turkish population.