Anatomical Variation of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve with Inferior Thyroid Artery: A Cross Sectional Study in Bangladeshi People

Abstract

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve is varied anatomically with inferior thyroid artery.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to observe the anatomical variation of recurrent laryngeal nerve with inferior thyroid artery among Bangladeshi people.

Methodology: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology and Head-Neck surgery at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet, Bangladesh from January 2004 to December 2004 for a period of one (01) year. Patients whose recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified during thyroidectomy due to various pathological conditions of thyroid gland were selected as group I. Again, the dead body which were undergone dissection were designated as group II. All the patients whose recurrent laryngeal nerve and inferior thyroid artery were identified during total, near total, sub-total, hemithyroidectomised or lobectomised were included in this study.

Result: A total number of 32 patients were recruited for this study. On the left side nerve was found anteriorly in 2(10.53%), in between in 4(21.05%) and posteriorly in 13(68.42%). On the right side-nerve was found anteriorly in 7(30.43%), in between in 6(26.09%) and posteriorly in 10(43.48%). In this series nerve was seen posterior relation more than other two relations and anterior relation more on right side whereas posterior relation on left side, anterior relation more than in between relation on right side but reverse on left side. In group II On the left side nerve was found anteriorly in 2(6.25%), in between in 6(18.75%) and posteriorly in 24(75%). On the right side-nerve was found anteriorly in 8(25%), in between in 9(28.12%), and posteriorly in 10(46.88%).

Conclusion: In conclusion each recurrent laryngeal nerve lies posterior to the inferior thyroid artery in the majority of the occasions whereas the nerve lies anterior to the branches of the inferior thyroid artery less commonly except right side of both study group.

Journal of Science Foundation, January 2020;18(1):7-12