A rare case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis: neurovascular conflict due to an aberrant bronchial artery detected at computed tomography

Maurizio CÈ, BA, MD; Francesco Bombaci, MD; Silvana SDAO, MD; Sara Marziali, MD; Giovanni Irmici, MD; Sara Boemi, MD; Marco Cervelli, MD; Michaela Cellina, MD

Radiology Case Reports (Jun 2022)

A rare case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis: neurovascular conflict due to an aberrant bronchial artery detected at computed tomography

Maurizio CÈ, BA, MD,
Francesco Bombaci, MD,
Silvana SDAO, MD,
Sara Marziali, MD,
Giovanni Irmici, MD,
Sara Boemi, MD,
Marco Cervelli, MD,
Michaela Cellina, MD

Affiliations

Maurizio CÈ, BA, MD: Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, 7, 20122, Milan, Italy; Corresponding author.
Francesco Bombaci, MD: Radiology Department, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, piazza Principessa Clotilde 3, 20121, Milan, Italy
Silvana SDAO, MD: Radiology Department, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, piazza Principessa Clotilde 3, 20121, Milan, Italy
Sara Marziali, MD: Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, 7, 20122, Milan, Italy
Giovanni Irmici, MD: Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, 7, 20122, Milan, Italy
Sara Boemi, MD: Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, 7, 20122, Milan, Italy
Marco Cervelli, MD: Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, 7, 20122, Milan, Italy
Michaela Cellina, MD: Radiology Department, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, piazza Principessa Clotilde 3, 20121, Milan, Italy

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 17, no. 6
pp. 2052 – 2057

Abstract

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We report the case of a 29-year-old patient without medical history presenting with dysphonia associated with left unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The patient underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography with an angiographic arterial phase of the head, neck and chest, and the only significant finding was the presence of a large, aberrant right bronchial artery originating directly from the aortic arch, where the recurrent left laryngeal nerve loops. After excluding alternative etiologies, the hypothesis of neurovascular conflict between this vessel and the recurrent left laryngeal nerve was formulated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature. Thanks to its high spatial resolution, contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the examination of choice for the study of anatomical variants and should be included in the routine work-up of patients presenting with unilateral vocal cord paralysis.

Published in Radiology Case Reports

ISSN: 1930-0433 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General): Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/radiology-case-reports

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