title: Nonrecurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Associated Anatomical Variations: The Art of Prediction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is a rare anatomical variation in which the nerve enters the larynx directly off the cervical vagus nerve.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present 2 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for benign disease. Intraoperatively, type 2a and 1 NRLN were identified. Due to the frequent association with a vascular abnormality, an ultrasound and a computed tomography were performed which showed a right aberrant subclavian artery with a retroesophageal course and a common trunk of the common carotids in both patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of an NRLN is a major risk during surgical procedures and the surgeon should be aware of the possibility of its existence. NRLN may be associated with rare vascular anomalies, such as arteria lusoria and a bicarotid trunk. This paper reveals this association in 2 patients for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Cervical Unit, General Surgery Department, São João Medical Center, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Cervical Unit, General Surgery Department, São João Medical Center, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Capela-Costa
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Cervical Unit, General Surgery Department, São João Medical Center, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matos-Lima
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Cervical Unit, General Surgery Department, São João Medical Center, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa-Maia
keywords: Prediction; Recurrent laryngeal nerve; Thyroid surgery; Vascular anomalies
references.citation: J Vasc Surg. 2000 Jul;32(1):192-6
references.pmid: 10876223
references.citation: Laryngoscope. 2001 Oct;111(10):1756-9
references.pmid: 11801940
references.citation: World J Surg. 2004 Jul;28(7):659-61
references.pmid: 15175898
references.citation: Ann Surg. 2004 Jul;240(1):18-25
references.pmid: 15213613
references.citation: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2005 Jun;27(6):1125-7
references.pmid: 15896634
references.citation: Clin Anat. 2007 Apr;20(3):344-6
references.pmid: 17031863
references.citation: Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2006 Jul 1;44(13):904-6
references.pmid: 17067483
references.citation: J Med Liban. 2007 Jan-Mar;55(1):46-9
references.pmid: 17489307
references.citation: Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2008 Sep;393(5):633-8
references.pmid: 18604552
references.citation: Surg Radiol Anat. 2009 Nov;31(9):649-55
references.pmid: 19326038
references.citation: Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2011 May;70(2):68-73
references.pmid: 21630225
references.citation: Head Neck. 2012 Sep;34(9):1240-6
references.pmid: 22076749
references.citation: Int J Surg. 2012;10(9):506-9
references.pmid: 22858799
references.citation: World J Surg. 2013 Jan;37(1):91-3
references.pmid: 22955954
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 2013 May;127(5):525-7
references.pmid: 23402309
references.citation: Int J Prev Med. 2013 Feb;4(2):237-40
references.pmid: 23543847
references.citation: Edinb Med Surg J. 1823 Oct 1;19(77):564-565
references.pmid: 30331771
references.citation: Surgery. 1988 Dec;104(6):977-84
references.pmid: 3057672
references.citation: J Laryngol Otol. 1994 May;108(5):417-9
references.pmid: 8035123