Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

RLN Nerve and Inferior Thyroid Crossing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Recurrent and Superior Laryngeal Nerves

  • 1252 Accesses

Abstract

One of the most important post thyroidectomy complications is recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury; the routine exposure and preservation of this important structure should be a standard procedure during thyroidectomy. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of the anatomy of the RLN and its anatomical abnormalities, variations, and relationship is fundamental for the thyroid surgeon. In particular, the relationship between the RLN and the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) is an important and helpful landmark for isolating the RLN and its branches during surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Gray SW, Skandalakis JE, Akin JT. Embryological considerations of thyroid surgery: developmental anatomy of the thyroid, parathyroids and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Am Surg. 1976;42:621–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Randolph GW. Surgical anatomy of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In: Randolph GW, editor. Surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands Philadelphia. Pennsylvania: Saunders; 2003. p. 300–42.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Henry JF. Applied embryology of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. In: Randolph GW, editor. Surgery of the thyroid and parathyroid glands Philadelphia. Pennsylvania: Saunders; 2003. p. 12–20.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Raffaelli M, Iacobone M, Henry JF. The false nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. Surgery. 2000;128: 1082–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dralle H, Sekulla C, Lorenz K, Brauckhoff M, Machens A. German IONM Study Group. Intraoperative monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. World J Surg. 2008;32: 1358–66.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Titche LL. Causes of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Arch Otolaryngol. 1976;102:259–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Monfared A, Gorti G, Kim D. Microsurgical anatomy of the laryngeal nerves as related to thyroid surgery. Laryngoscope. 2002;112:386–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Yilmaz E, Celik HH, Durgun B, Atasever A, Ilgi S. Arteria thyroidea ima arising from the brachiocephalic trunk with bilateral absence of inferior thyroid arteries: a case report. Surg Radiol Anat. 1993;15: 197–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Campos BA, Henriques PR. Relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid artery: a study in corpses. Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo. 2000;55:195–200.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Flament JB, Delattre JF, Palot JP. Les piéges anatomiques de la dissection du nerf récurrent. J Chir (Paris). 1983;120(5):329–33.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Reed AF. The relations of the inferior laryngeal nerve to the inferior thyroid artery. Anat Rec. 1943;85: 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Freschi G, Masi C, Pichi Graziani M, et al. Considerazioni anatomo-chirurgiche sul nervo laringeo ricorrente in corso di tiroidectomia. Minerva Chir. 1994;49:943–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Lee M, Lee U, Lee J, Han S. Relative direction and position of recurrent laryngeal nerve for anatomical configuration. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009;31:649–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sun SQ, Zhao J, Lu H, He GQ, Ran JH, Peng XH. An anatomical study of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: its branching patterns and relationship to the inferior thyroid artery. Surg Radiol Anat. 2001;23:363–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kulekci M, Batioglu-Karaaltin A, Saatci O, Uzun I. Recurrent laryngeal nerve & inferior thyroid artery. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2012;121(10):650–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yalçxin B. Anatomic configurations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior thyroid artery. Surgery. 2006;139:181–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Raffaelli M, Lombardi CP, Bellantone R, De Crea C, Lesnik D, Potenza A, Randolph G. Avoiding complications in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. In: Stell & Maran’s textbook of head and neck surgery and oncology. 5th ed. Londra: Hodder Arnold; 2012. p. 474–93. ISBN 978-0-340-92916-2.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  18. Abadin SS, Kaplan EL, Angelos P. Malpractice litigation after thyroid surgery: the role of recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries, 1989–2009. Surgery. 2010;148:718.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Edis AJ. Prevention and management of complications associated with thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Surg Clin North Am. 1979;59:83–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Agostino Gemelli 8, Rome, 00168, Italy

    Celestino Pio Lombardi M.D., Marco Raffaelli M.D., Carmela De Crea M.D., Giulia Carnassale M.D. & Rocco Bellantone M.D.

Authors
  1. Celestino Pio Lombardi M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marco Raffaelli M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carmela De Crea M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Giulia Carnassale M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rocco Bellantone M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmela De Crea M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Claire and John Bertucci Endowed Cha, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Gregory W. Randolph

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lombardi, C.P., Raffaelli, M., De Crea, C., Carnassale, G., Bellantone, R. (2016). RLN Nerve and Inferior Thyroid Crossing. In: Randolph, G. (eds) The Recurrent and Superior Laryngeal Nerves. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27727-1_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27727-1_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27725-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27727-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation