The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), a branch of the vagus nerve, supplies the motor and sensation function of the larynx. Generally, RLN detours around the right subclavian artery on the right side and the aortic arch on the left side. In a rare anatomical variant, called nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN), the nerve takes an aberrant path rather than descending into the thorax as usual. First reported in 1823, NRLN is a rare anomaly arising almost exclusively on the right side, reported in 0.3-0.8% of people, and associated with vascular anomalies of embryonic aortic arch development. The atypical vascular pattern of aberrant subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) running behind the trachea and esophagus allows the vagus nerve to pass freely, which then directly branches out as NRLN at the level of the larynx. On the other hand, cases of left NRLN, only reported in 0.004% of people, are all accompanied by significant pathologies such as situs inversus totalis with opposite vascular pattern of left aberrant subclavian artery. This rare anatomical variation is clinically important, as NLRN is a major risk factor for iatrogenic injury during thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and other invasive procedures in the head and neck region.
Keywords: nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve; situs inversus totalis; thyroid surgery.