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Non-recurrent laryngeal nerve related to thyroid surgery: report of three cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2007

C Page ,
P Monet ,
J Peltier ,
B Bonnaire  and
V Strunski
C Page*
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Amiens, Amiens, France Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, ‘Jules Verne’University of Picardie, Amiens, France
P Monet
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital of Amiens, Amiens, France
J Peltier
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, ‘Jules Verne’University of Picardie, Amiens, France
B Bonnaire
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital of Amiens, Amiens, France
V Strunski
Affiliation:
Department of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Amiens, Amiens, France
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Cyril Page, CHU Amiens – Hôpital Nord, Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, Place Victor Pauchet, F-80054 Amiens Cedex 1, France. E-mail: cyril.page@caramail.com
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Abstract

Purpose of the study:

We aimed to highlight a rare anatomical variation involving the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and to emphasise its implications for thyroid surgery.

Materials and methods:

Over a period of 13 years, 993 patients underwent thyroid surgery; 1557 recurrent laryngeal nerves (887 on the right side) were exposed.

Results:

Three non-recurrent laryngeal nerves were found on the right side, associated with a retro-oesophageal subclavian artery. One case was suspected before surgery.

Discussion:

Several variations in the path and branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve have been reported in the literature. The frequency of occurrence of a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is about 1 per cent, for patients undergoing thyroid surgery. Other surgically relevant anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve include associations with the inferior thyroid artery and the presence of nerve branches.

Conclusion:

The recurrent laryngeal nerve must be carefully dissected and totally exposed during thyroid surgery in order to best preserve its function. Moreover, the thyroid surgeon must be aware of the existence of anatomical variations, which are not as rare as one may think.

Keywords

Thyroid GlandRecurrent Laryngeal NerveThyroidectomyAnatomy
Type
Clinical Record
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 122 , Issue 7 , July 2008 , pp. 757 - 761
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2008

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