Triticeal cartilage: a meta-analysis of prevalence and morphologic evaluation

The triticeal cartilage, situated within the lateral thyrohyoid membrane, remains elusive in function yet crucial in clinical contexts. Composed of hyaline cartilage, it is prone to ossification, potentially leading to diagnostic challenges such as misidentification with atherosclerosis or fractures.

This study, aiming to establish its prevalence and highlight clinical relevance, conducted a systematic review across several electronic databases such as Medline, PUBMED, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, SpringerLink and Sciencedirect using keywords "triticeal cartilage", "triticeous cartilage" or "cartilago triticea". An assurance tool for anatomical investigations was used to assess the quality of the methodology (AQUA). A random effects model was utilized to determine the pooled prevalence.

The true prevalence of triticeal cartilage was found to be variable, with an overall pooled proportion of 43% while crude prevalence were 50.6%. Its crude prevalence was notably higher in women compared to men, in contrary true prevalence was higher in men, posing sex-related disparities. It was mostly seen bilaterally. When the morphologic characteristics of the cartilage were evaluated, classification differences were observed in terms of shape, with a mean length of 5.48 mm, a mean width of 3.04 mm and a mean weight of 62.32 mg. The vertebral level at which the TC was located was mostly C4. The degree of calcification of the cartilage was most commonly mild.

In conclusion, triticeal cartilage holds significant clinical importance, necessitating vigilance during diagnostic evaluations and surgical approaches. Further studies are imperative to elucidate its function comprehensively and refine diagnostic strategies, ensuring optimal patient care in neck-related pathologies.