Fusion of a cervical sympathetic ganglion with the recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve: a case of false positive non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve
Fahri Yetişir1, A. Ebru Salman2, Alper Bilal Özkardeş1, Seyit Murat Aydın1, Mehmet Kılıç1
1Ministry of Health Ankara Atatürk Teaching Hospital, Department of General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Ministry of Health Ankara Atatürk Teaching Hospital, Department of Anesthesia and Reanimation, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract
An anastomosis between the recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (RILN) and the cervical sympathetic ganglion is seen rarely and might be confused with non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. In spite of the fact that NRILN is rarely seen and is an important anatomical structure, when damaged, the quality of life of the patient is negatively affected. This case report describes a connection between the RILN and the sympathetic nerve ganglion encountered during nerve dissection in a 43 year old female patient undergoing thyroidectomy and central zone dissection. Key points in the differential diagnosis are discussed.
Keywords: Sympathetic nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, thyroid, non-recurrent laryngeal nerve