Anatomical variations of the cervical vagus nerve on ultrasonography: a cross-sectional study

Ultrasonography is a valuable, non-invasive imaging modality for identifying anatomical variations of the cervical vagus nerve. Awareness of these variations is essential for surgical planning and for preventing iatrogenic nerve injury, especially during procedures like thyroidectomy, vagus nerve stimulation, and radiofrequency ablation, particularly in older patients and on the left side of the neck. Preoperative mapping of the nerve using ultrasonography could, therefore, be considered as a routine measure.