A case of atypical origin of superior laryngeal artery: anatomical and clinical relevance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2026-0045Keywords:
superior laryngeal artery, external carotid artery, variation, clinical significanceAbstract
Abstract. The superior laryngeal artery (SLA) is considered a typical branch of the superior thyroid artery and serves as a primary source of blood supply of the larynx. The present case describes an atypical origin of the left SLA from the external carotid artery – a rarely observed anatomical variant. The review of literature reveals multiple documented variations in SLA origin with important clinical relevance for surgical procedures, such as thyroidectomy, laryngectomy, and targeted intra-arterial chemotherapy for laryngeal cancer. The detailed knowledge of SLA variations reduces the risk of surgical and postoperative complications in the neck region.
References
Imanishi N, Kondoh T, Kishi K, Aiso S. Angiographic study of the superior laryngeal artery. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2009;86(2):61-5.
Rusu MC, Nimigean V, Banu MA, et al. The morphology and topography of the superior laryngeal artery. Surg Radiol Anat. 2007;29(8):653-60.
Andrea M. Vascularização Arterial da Laringe. Distribução Macro e Microvascular (Doctoral Thesis). Lisbon, School of Medicine, Lisbon University, 1975.
Anthony JP, Argenta P, Trabulsy PP, et al. The arterial anatomy of larynx transplantation: microsurgical revascularization of the larynx. Clin Anat. 1996;9(3):155-9.
Iimura A, Itoh M, Terayama H, et al. Anatomical study of meandering and functions of human intralaryngeal artery. Okajimas Folia Anat Jpn. 2004;81(5):85-92.
Nakashima T, Mihoki T, Ono T, et al. Selective (intra-arterial), rapid infusion chemo‑radiotherapy to preserve the larynx in advanced laryngeal carcinoma: preliminary results. J Laryngol Otol Suppl. 2009;(31):30-4.
Vázquez T, Cobiella R, Maranillo E, et al. Anatomical variations of the superior thyroid and superior laryngeal arteries. Head Neck. 2009;31(8):1078-85.
Landzhov B, Gaydarski L, Angushev I, et al. Variations in the origin of the superior laryngeal artery and their clinical significance: a case report with a proposal for a new classification. Int J Morphol. 2022;40(3):595-600.
Adachi B. Das Arteriensystem der Japaner. Kyoto, Maruzen Co., 1928.
Devadas D, Pillay M, Sukumaran TT. Variations in the origin of superior laryngeal artery. Anat Cell Biol. 2016;49(4):254-258.
Bergman RA, Afifi AK, Miyauchi R. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation. Superior Thyroid Artery. Web Site, Anatomy Atlases, 2021.
Quain R. The Anatomy of the Arteries of the Human Body. London, Taylor and Walton, 1844. pp.104-7.
Nayak SR, Krishnamurthy A, Prabhu LV, et al. Variable origin of the superior laryngeal artery and its clinical significance. Al Ameen J Med Sci. 2011;4:69–74.
Billakanti PB, Huban T. Anomalous origin of superior laryngeal artery from external carotid artery: a case report. Int Arch Integr Med. 2015;2:144–147.
Murlimanju BV, Prabhu LV, Pai MM, et al. Variant origins of arteries in the carotid triangle: a case report. Chang Gung Med J. 2012;35:281–284.
Motwani R, Jhajhria SK. Variant branching pattern of superior thyroid artery and its clinical relevance: a case report. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9:AD05–AD06.
Waldron J, Stafford N. Ligation of the external carotid artery for severe epistaxis. J Otolaryngol. 1992;21(4):249-51.
Bynoe RP, Kerwin AJ, Parker HH 3rd, et al. Maxillofacial injuries and life‑threatening hemorrhage: treat
ment with transcatheter arterial embolization. J Trauma. 2003;55(1):74-9.
Wurm J, Göde U, Fucak A. Prophylaktische und notfallmässige Unterbindungen der Aa. carotides bei Patienten mit malignen Tumoren im Kopf-Hals-Gebiet [Ligature of the carotid arteries performed prophylactically or as an emergency procedure in patients with malignant tumours of the head and neck]. HNO. 2000;48(1):22-7.
Furusaka T, Matsuda A, Tanaka A, et al. Superselective intraarterial chemoradiation therapy for functional laryngeal preservation in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx. Acta Otolaryngol. 2013;133(6):633-40.
Popa RA, Popa CG, Hînganu D, Hînganu MV. Microvascularization of the Vocal Folds: Molecular Architecture, Functional Insights, and Personalized Research Perspectives. J Pers Med. 2025;15(7):293.
Coerts HI, D‘Mello B, Verburg FA, et al. Thyroid Arterial Embolization for the Management of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Disease: A Systematic Review. Endocr Pract. 2025:S1530891X(25)00995‑4.
Gaydarski L, Petrova K, Dimitrova IN, et al. Unique combination of two arterial variations in the neck. A case report with a proposal for enhancement of the existing classifications. Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2025, (in press).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 S. Stanchev (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
You are free to share, copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format under these terms.
Journal Acta Medica Bulgarica 
