title: Relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy.
abstract: METHODS
  The relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during consecutive thyroidectomies was prospectively evaluated. When one structure was noted, careful dissection was performed to locate the other structure, to preserve their natural anatomical relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 103 consecutive thyroid lobectomies were performed on 73 patients. The distance from the superior parathyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 88 cases (88.9 per cent), the superior parathyroid gland was identified within 5 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In 62 cases (62.6 per cent), the gland was within 1 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The height of the thyroid lobe was positively associated with the distance between the two structures (p= 0.001), as was the incidence of cancer (p= 0.033). The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was less than 4 per cent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve was found in close proximity to the superior parathyroid gland. In a thyroid gland with a large height, or in a cancerous lobe, this relationship is less reliable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persky
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myssiorek
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D010280:Parathyroid Glands; D005260:Female; D008875:Middle Aged; D000328:Adult; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000368:Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000453:epidemiology; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anatomy; Diagnosis; Parathyroid Gland; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; Thyroidectomy