Left anterior laryngeal loop of the common carotid artery in a cluster of bilateral cervicothoracic vascular variants: a case report.
Viviana Dincă, Adelina Maria Jianu, Mugurel Constantin Rusu
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
CTA demonstrated a common-origin left common carotid artery (CCA)–brachiocephalic trunk, a high-riding brachiocephalic trunk, and bilateral carotid and external carotid artery variants. The right CCA had a lateral loop, while the left CCA had an intramediastinal loop and a 1.75 cm loop anterior to the larynx; the left superior thyroid artery arose directly from the CCA. Additional findings included tortuosity of all assessed segments and a kink in the right internal carotid artery. The report describes the vascular anatomy on CTA; no clinical presentation or treatment outcome is provided.
What made this case unusual
The key finding was a left CCA loop anterior to the larynx, occurring alongside multiple bilateral carotid and external carotid branching variants. This places a major cervical artery close to the anterior laryngeal operative field.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
CTA with multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions can delineate variant carotid courses and their relationship to the laryngeal framework, including an anterior laryngeal CCA loop relevant to operative planning.
Why it matters
Recognition of this anatomy is relevant before front-of-neck airway access, thyroid or laryngotracheal surgery, and central neck procedures.