title: Efficacy of ultrasonography in identification of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective study was to identify the arterial anomalies constantly associated with nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve by preoperative ultrasonography and impact on recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve palsy (RILN).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 332 patients who underwent thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy between 2009 February and 2011 October. Preoperative ultrasonography was performed to all patients to identify vascular anomalies related to NRILN. CT was performed only in patients with NRILN predicted with preoperative ultrasonography. Systematic nerve dissection was performed surgically. Patient characteristics, type of NRILN, preoperative and postoperative vocal cord mobility and morbidity were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NRILN was identified in 6 patients on the right side (1.94%). Preoperative ultrasonography predicted NRILN in all cases (accuracy 100%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasonography is a very reliable and simple method to be used in preoperative assessment to identify vascular anomaly associated with NRILN to make optimal surgical decisions against nerve damage in patients undergoing thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy. Adequate surgical technique is of great importance.
authors.affiliation: Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, General Surgery, Turkey. drfahriyetisir@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Fahri
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yetisir
authors.forename: A Ebru
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Çiftçi
authors.forename: Akif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teber
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiliç
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007823:Laryngeal Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control