TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during thyroidectomy
AU - Persky, Michael
AU - Fang, Y.
AU - Myssiorek, D.
PY - 2014/4
Y1 - 2014/4
N2 - Design: The relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during consecutive thyroidectomies was prospectively evaluated. When one structure was noted, careful dissection was performed to locate the other structure, to preserve their natural anatomical relationship. Patients: In total, 103 consecutive thyroid lobectomies were performed on 73 patients. The distance from the superior parathyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve was recorded. Results: In 88 cases (88.9 per cent), the superior parathyroid gland was identified within 5 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In 62 cases (62.6 per cent), the gland was within 1 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The height of the thyroid lobe was positively associated with the distance between the two structures (p = 0.001), as was the incidence of cancer (p = 0.033). The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was less than 4 per cent. Conclusion: In most cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve was found in close proximity to the superior parathyroid gland. In a thyroid gland with a large height, or in a cancerous lobe, this relationship is less reliable.
AB - Design: The relationship of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the superior parathyroid gland during consecutive thyroidectomies was prospectively evaluated. When one structure was noted, careful dissection was performed to locate the other structure, to preserve their natural anatomical relationship. Patients: In total, 103 consecutive thyroid lobectomies were performed on 73 patients. The distance from the superior parathyroid gland to the recurrent laryngeal nerve was recorded. Results: In 88 cases (88.9 per cent), the superior parathyroid gland was identified within 5 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In 62 cases (62.6 per cent), the gland was within 1 mm of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The height of the thyroid lobe was positively associated with the distance between the two structures (p = 0.001), as was the incidence of cancer (p = 0.033). The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis was less than 4 per cent. Conclusion: In most cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve was found in close proximity to the superior parathyroid gland. In a thyroid gland with a large height, or in a cancerous lobe, this relationship is less reliable.
KW - Anatomy
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Parathyroid Gland
KW - Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
KW - Thyroidectomy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84900814505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84900814505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215114000358
DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022215114000358
M3 - Article
VL - 128
SP - 368
EP - 371
JO - Journal of Laryngology and Otology
JF - Journal of Laryngology and Otology
SN - 0022-2151
IS - 4
ER -