A Report on Bilaterally Elongated Superior Cervical Ganglion

ABSTRACT

Superior cervical ganglion (SCG), the largest of the three cervical sympathetic ganglia, is formed by the fusion of first four cervical ganglia. Bilaterally elongated superior cervical ganglion was observed in a female cadaver during dissection. On the right side, it was 63.74 mm long and 5.75 mm wide and on the left side, it was 62.88 mm and 5.84 mm respectively. Histological analysis of the ganglion done with toluidine blue staining confirmed the structure of sympathetic ganglion. Superior cervical ganglion is the preferred ganglion for sympathetic block in conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain,and post-herpetic neuralgia. Even though superior cervical ganglion has been reported to be at the safest location, thetension of sympathetic trunk while retracting the carotid sheath during surgeries might result in Horner’s syndrome. Furthermore, a large ganglion may also be confused with deep cervical lymph nodes or retropharyngeal mass during imaging studies. Understanding the variant anatomy of the superior cervical ganglion might serve as a guide for imaging studies, cervical spine surgeries,and sympathetic block.