Thyroid cartilage asymmetry as a potential diagnostic finding for occult cartilaginous fractures for the evaluation of nonfatal manual strangulation

•Asymmetry of the thyroid cartilage is a morphologic variant of unknown etiology associated with male sex and older age.•Asymmetry of the TC laminae was observed significantly more often on the left side.•Trauma to the thyroid cartilage may result in fractures, but (micro-)fractures of the cartilaginous parts are difficult to detect on computed tomography.•Trauma to cartilaginous parts of the thyroid cartilage may result in asymmetry.•In two cases of nonfatal manual strangulation, TC asymmetry likely resulted from the assault.