BACKGROUND The nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve is an anomaly associated with the absence of the brachiocephalic artery (BCA) and the presence of arteria lusoria. METHODS The preoperative CT scans from 290 patients (9 nonrecurrent, 281 recurrent) were retrospectively reviewed. We identified the BCA or the arteria lusoria, and classified the relationship between the right subclavian arter...

INTRODUCTION The knowledge of the branching pattern of external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and its relationship with the superior thyroid artery is the key point for identifying the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during surgeries of the neck. CASE PRESENTATION During routine dissection of the left head and neck region of a 50 years old female cadaver, we observed ...

Background & Aims: Surgeons are not willing to participate in thyroid surgeries due to dangerous, although rare, complications of the procedure. Post thyroidectomy complications are divided in early and late onset; hypocalcemia, bleeding, thyroid storm and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury are the most important ones. This study was performed to compare the frequency of recurrent laryngeal...

PURPOSE The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) in identifying anatomical variants of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroidectomies, with emphasis on the nerve's relationship to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA), Zuckerkandl's tubercle, nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves (NRLNs), and extralaryngeal bifurcation. METHODS A total of 128 ...

OBJECTIVE In certain cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has to be sacrificed. This often results in an inadequate length of residual RLN to be used in a reinnervation procedure. We investigated the length of the distal stump of the RLN from the inferior border of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle (IPCM), where it is frequently compromised, to its entrance into the larynx. Our o...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND We aimed to minimalize operative complications by spraying of methylene blue stain on thyroid glands and the perithyroidal area. MATERIAL AND METHODS The intra-operative methylene blue spraying technique was used prospectively on a total of 56 patients who had undergone primary (not recurrent) thyroid surgery for a variety of thyroid diseases. Bilateral total thyroide...

Extracranial involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the hypoglossal nerve is known as Tapia's syndrome. Ipsilateral paralysis of the vocal cord and tongue is present. Lesion of these nerves may be a rare complication of airway management. Herein, a case of Tapia's Syndrome complicating transoral intubation during general anaesthesia in a rhinoplasty operation, together with a review o...

Background. Complete anatomic knowledge including all variations of the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) is mandatory for thyroid surgeon. Extralaryngeal terminal division (ETD) of the ILN has significant importance for the safety of thyroidectomy. Material and Methods. Surgical dissection of 200 ILNs was performed on 100 cases. The presence of ETD of the nerve was determined intraoperatively. We...

The right non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is a rare nerve anomaly that communicates the laryngeal nerve to the right vagal nerve trunk directly in the neck, which is usually accompanied by aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). We report on two cases of thoracic esophageal carcinoma undertaken in patients with these abnormalities: a 73-year-old woman with progressive dysphagia ...

Remittent isolated palsy of peripheral or of upper cranial nerves in diabetic patients is well documented, but paralysis of a lower cranial nerve or an isolated branch of any cranial nerve has rarely been reported. In the case described, besides temporary hypoglossal and facial nerve palsies previously, unilateral temporary vocal cord palsy caused by right inferior laryngeal nerve (recurrent) p...