Diagnostic complexities and anatomical surprises in a case of thyroid surgery for papillary carcinoma
Sandrini, A.; Turetta, G.; Fattovich, G.
Chirurgia Italiana 59(6): 877-881
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4773 PMID: 18360996 Document Number: 608449
We present the case of a male patient who needed surgery for a large undefined submandibular schwannoma and a small contralateral thyroid carcinoma associated with cervical lymph nodes of a dubious nature. During the operative procedure all the pathological conditions were resolved, with some remarkable surprises. A non-functioning parathyroid adenoma was found and removed. A fairly unusual anatomical complication was also detected with regard to the right inferior laryngeal nerve, i.e. an anastomotic branch connecting the main trunk to the vagus nerve.