Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T12:48:39.519Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Case of coexisting, ipsilateral nonrecurrent and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2017

Y S Yang ,
S K No ,
S C Choi  and
K H Hong
Y S Yang*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
S K No
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
S C Choi
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
K H Hong
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, South Korea
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Yun Su Yang, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, Chonbuk 560-182, Republic of Korea. Fax: 82 63 250 1986 E-mail: yang2002@chonbuk.ac.kr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

We report an extremely rare case of coexisting, ipsilateral nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve.

Method:

We present a case report and a review of the world literature concerning ipsilateral nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve.

Results:

The presence of a coexisting, ipsilateral nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve is a very rare embryological aberration which is associated with a right subclavian artery originating from the aortic arch. We report a case of coexisting, ipsilateral nonrecurrent and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerves associated with this vascular anomaly.

Conclusion:

The surgeon must be aware of the possibility of coexisting, ipsilateral nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve, and thus must trace the nerve in its entirety. Occasionally, what appears to be a nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve will actually be a communicating branch between the recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve and the oesophageal or sympathetic ganglia. If such a neurological variant is present, the consequences of careless dissection could include not only vocal fold paralysis but also dysphagia (if the pharyngeal and oesophageal branches of nonrecurrent or recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve are injured).

Keywords

Recurrent Laryngeal NerveAnatomyCongenital AbnormalitiesNeck
Type
Online Only Clinical Record
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 123 , Issue 7 , July 2009 , e17
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Proye, CAG, Carnaille, BM, Goropoulos, A. Nonrecurrent and recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: surgical pitfall in cervical exploration. Am J Surg 1991;162:495–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2 Sanders, G, Uyeda, RY, Karlan, MS. Nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerves and their association with a recurrent branch. Am J Sur 1983;146:501–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Thompson, NW. In discussion of 5. Surgery 1988;104:983–4Google Scholar
4 Mra, Z, Wax, MK. Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerves: anatomic considerations during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Am J Otolaryngol 1999;20:91–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Stedman, GW. A singular distribution of some of the nerves and arteries of the neck and top of the thorax. Edin Med Surg J 1823;19:564–5Google ScholarPubMed
6 Raffaelli, M, Iacobone, M, Henry, JF. The “false” nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. Surgery 2000;128:1082–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Maranillo, E, Vazquez, T, Quer, M, Niedenfuhr, MR, Leon, X, Viejo, F et al. Potential structures that could be confused with a nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: an anatomic study. Laryngoscope 2008;118:56–60CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Materazzi, G, Berti, P, Iacconi, P, Miccoli, P. Nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve predicted before thyroidectomy by preoperative imaging. J Am Coll Surg 2000;191:580CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed