Unusual looping pattern of ansa cervicalis: case report

Abstract

Introduction The course and location of ansa cervicalis of the neck often vary. Because of its closeness with the major vessels and nerves of the neck, any variation in its pattern is of great clinical and surgical importance. This paper reports a case of an unusual looping pattern of ansa cervicalis. Case report We report here an unusual looping pattern of ansa cervicalis. The inferior root of ansa cervicalis, instead of joining the superior root as a single nerve, had both the C2 and C3 components of it joined to the superior root separately without uniting each other. Due to this, two loops of AC were formed superior and inferior. Conclusion Since the branches of ansa cervicalis are often chosen for nerve–muscle transplantation in the treatment of paralysed larynx, and some of the branches arise from the loop of the AC, an abnormal looping pattern may hinder such surgical procedures. Therefore, it is essential to the surgeons to be familiar with its unusual variations.