Head and Neck Imaging

Distal vagal neuropathy

neuropathy caused by injury to the vagal nerve distal to the hyoid bone. It results in isolated endolaryngeal symptoms (hoarseness, and sometimes also aspiration). Imaging should be directed towards searching for a lesion along the course of the distal vagal nerve (in the carotid space) or along the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (in the tracheo-oesophageal groove); on the left side imaging should include the upper mediastinum and aortopulmonary window as the recurrent laryngeal nerve passes below the aortic arch. Also, see recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, proximal vagal neuropathy.

RH