Vagal paragangliomas (VPGLs) represent <5% of all head and neck paragangliomas (PGLs) and show a 17% to 20% risk of malignancy. We present a rare case of a 50-year-old gender with a left VPGL in her neck. To date, approximately 200 cases have been reported. The tumor showed web-like adhesions and arterial supply from the external carotid artery. We performed en bloc resection including a part of the vagus nerve. The superior laryngeal nerve was preserved with the “human communicating nerve” which maintains neural communication in >70% of humans, providing motor fibers to the larynx. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day. These tumors are therapeutically challenging owing to their proximity to vital neck and skull base structures. Early detection decreases surgical morbidity and mortality. Preservation of viable neural tissue is important in advanced disease.
Carotid Artery, External ; Head ; Humans ; Laryngeal Nerves ; Larynx ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Neck ; Paraganglioma ; Skull Base ; Vagus Nerve

Ectopic major renal arteries are rare but anatomically important because they can complicate aortic surgery and make the operation challenging for vascular surgeons. A 68-year-old male was presented with a 5.5-cm aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta combined with an ectopic main right renal artery arising from the middle of the aneurysm sac, perfusing a normotopic right kidney. The patient also had small right common iliac artery aneurysm. Open repair was performed with reimplantation of the right renal artery on the aortic tube graft, the right kidney was perfused with cold heparinized lactated Ringer solution during operation.The right common iliac artery aneurysm was wrapped with a polyester band. The patient’s postoperative courses were uneventful, with normal renal function during 5 years of follow-up. Preoperative planning is important for achieving optimal results in treating complex aneurysms with ectopic main renal artery.

Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAUs) of the aorta are defined as atherosclerotic lesions with aortic intima and media ulceration, which may lead to a complete rupture of the adventitial wall. The present article aimed to report an unusual case of a surgically treated patient with abdominal aorta PAU with an illustration of the key features and to review and analyze the existing literature data. PAUs typically develop in elderly and hypertensive patients and in patients with advanced atherosclerosis. Although originally described for the descending thoracic aorta, a similar clinicopathological entity also occurs in the abdominal aorta. Patients with symptoms of a PAU should be treated immediately if they are fit for surgery. Exceptive observation by imaging modalities is necessary in patients with asymptomatic small (<2 cm) PAU, with or without focal dissection.
Aged ; Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Atherosclerosis ; Humans ; Rupture ; Ulcer