Managing the Involved Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in Thyroid Cancer

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy (RLNP) is not uncommon after thyroid surgery and can be debilitating. This is a retrospective cohort analysis of outcomes in patients with RLNP post-thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid malignancy.

Clinicopathological details as well as outcomes of thyroidectomies for differentiated thyroid cancer in 862 patients performed over a period of 22 years (2001-2023) for nerve palsy were collected. The patients were stratified into two groups based on whether the RLN was amputated or preserved.

Of the 1,520 nerves in 862 patients at risk during thyroidectomy, a total of 71 (8.2%) (20 M:51 F) patients, with a median age of 54 (range: 19-83), suffered RLNP, which was temporary in 14 (1.6%), unilateral in 51 (5.9%), and bilateral in 6 (0.7%) patients. The RLN was amputated in 31 of 62 patients (50%). In 29 of 71 (41%) patients, the nerve was intentionally sacrificed due to gross disease infiltration while the RLN was inadvertently severed during dissection in 2 (3%) patients. Among cases with RLN transection, only five underwent primary repair or ansa cervicalis to RLN anastomosis. The only factor associated with amputation of the RLN was a larger tumour size (40.4 vs. 24.7 mm, p = 0.007). Preservation of voice quality was higher in the shave group in comparison to the amputation group (93.5% vs. 71.0%, p = 0.0426).

Preservation of nerve or reconstruction in transectional injuries should be considered where possible to improve voice outcomes except in cases when the laryngotracheal complex is involved.