Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Paralysis by Compression From a Tracheal Diverticulum Laurens J. Ceulemans, MD, Philip Lerut, MD, Stefan De Moor, MD, Rob Schildermans, MD, Paul De Leyn, MD, PhD The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Volume 97, Issue 3, Pages 1068-1071 (March 2014) DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.06.118 Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions
Fig 1 Computed tomography scan of the neck and thorax. (A) Axial and (B) three-dimensional reformatted images show a relatively small (2 cm) air-filled tubular structure (arrowhead in A and B), located posterolateral to the right side of the trachea. (H = head; F = feet; R = right; L = left.) The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2014 97, 1068-1071DOI: (10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.06.118) Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions
Fig 2 Bronchoscopic view. The narrow-mouthed opening of the tracheal diverticulum (black arrow) is located on the right posterolateral side of the trachea, adjacent to the pars membranacea (asterisk). (A = anterior; P = posterior; R = right; L = left.) The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2014 97, 1068-1071DOI: (10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.06.118) Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions
Fig 3 Perioperative view of the tracheal diverticulum. The tracheal diverticulum (black arrow), located at the posterolateral side of the trachea, is elevated revealing the compressed right recurrent laryngeal nerve (asterisk). (H = head; F = feet; R = right; L = left.) The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2014 97, 1068-1071DOI: (10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.06.118) Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions
Fig 4 Histopathologic examination of the resected diverticulum. Histopathologic examination reveals a fibrotic cystic wall (asterisks) with an epithelial lining of ciliated respiratory cells (black arrows) and absence of smooth muscle or cartilage, in keeping with an acquired form of tracheal diverticulum. (Hematoxylin and eosin 400×). The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2014 97, 1068-1071DOI: (10.1016/j.athoracsur.2013.06.118) Copyright © 2014 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Terms and Conditions