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Clinical Trial
. 2011 Aug;32(7):1178-81.
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2476. Epub 2011 Jul 14.

Variations in the course of the cervical vagus nerve on thyroid ultrasonography

J K Park  1 , S Y Jeong, J-H Lee, G C Lim, J W Chang
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Variations in the course of the cervical vagus nerve on thyroid ultrasonography

J K Park et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Aug.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Only 1 ultrasonography study that described the variation of the VN had been published at the time our research was begun. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and type of variation in the course of the cervical VN on thyroid ultrasonography.

Materials and methods: From August 2009 to September 2010, 163 consecutive patients were evaluated by sonography for the screening and characterization of thyroid nodules (mean age, 49.0 ± 14.4 years, male:female, 20:143). Two types of variation were defined as follows: 1) anterior variation, when the course of the VNs changed from the typical location to an anterior location in front of the CCA; and 2) medial variation, when the course of the VNs changed from the typical location to a location medial to the CCA (between CCA and thyroid gland). The incidence of the each variation was studied.

Results: Variation in the course of the VN occurred in 5.5% (18/326) of cases. The anterior variation was observed in 4.3% (14/326, right:left = 4:10), and the medial variation was observed in 1.2% (4/326, right:left = 3:1). For both variations, the VN was close to or nearly abutted the thyroid gland after it changed course.

Conclusions: Variation in the course of the cervical VN could be assessed by ultrasonography. Two variations were observed in 5.5% of cases. The anterior variation was more common than the medial variation.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Anterior variation of the VN in transaxial ultrasonography. In the upper pole area of the thyroid (A), VN (arrow) is located between CCA and IJV. Then the VN changes its course, traversing the space between the CCA and IJV, in front of the CCA (B, C). After it changes course, the VN is located anterior and medial to CCA and is close to the thyroid gland (D).
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Medial variation of the VN in transaxial ultrasonography. A, VN changes its course under the CCA (arrow). After it changes course, the VN is located medial to the CCA and is close to the thyroid gland until it enters the thorax (B–D).
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
VN (arrow) is located between the IJV and CCA on both sides in transaxial ultrasonography. The whole carotid sheath is inwardly rotated, and the VN is very close to the thyroid gland.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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