title: Preoperative computed tomography diagnosis of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve in patients with esophageal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is a rare but potentially serious anomaly that is commonly associated with the aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). It is easy to damage during surgical resection of esophageal cancer, leading to severe complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative enhanced thoracic computed tomography (CT) scans of 2697 patients with esophageal carcinoma treated in our hospital between January 2010 and December 2013 were examined. We classified the positional relationship between the right subclavian artery and the membranous wall of the trachea into two types and used this method to predicate NRLN by identifying ARSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six patients (0.96%) were identified with ARSA, all of which were cases of NRLN by CT. NRLN was identified during surgery in the 26 patients, and a normal right recurrent laryngeal nerve was observed in 2671 patients. The ARSA was detected on the dorsal side of the membranous wall of the trachea in all 26 NRLN cases, while it was detected on the ventral side in all 2671 recurrent laryngeal nerve cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced CT scanning is a reliable method for predicting NRLN by identifying ARSA. Preoperative recognition of this nerve anomaly allows surgeons to avoid damaging the nerve and abnormal vessels during esophagectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Xi
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Long-Qi
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xu
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Yue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018376:Cardiovascular Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013348:Subclavian Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: 
  Aberrant subclavian artery; 
  X-ray computed; esophagectomy; non-recurrent laryngeal nerve; tomography scanner