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


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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).
Yang
Y S
YS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, South Korea. yang2002@chonbuk.ac.kr
No
S K
SK
Choi
S C
SC
Hong
K H
KH
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed