Transient vocal cord paralysis after fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid tumor

Complications of thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are exceedingly rare. Hematoma formation is the most commonly encountered complication. Infection and seeding of carcinoma cells in the needle track has also been reported in a rare case. Here we describe patients diagnosed as having transient vocal cord paralysis after FNAB of benign thyroid tumor.

Retrospective review of patients with concurrent diagnosis of vocal cord paralysis after FNAB.

Among 10,974 patients who underwent FNAB, 4 patients showed vocal cord paralysis on laryngoscopy. These patients had solid and/or cystic lesion in the thyroid. Routine FNAB of the nodule was performed using a 23-gauge needle. Cytologic findings were benign tumor. Change of voice in the patients occurred 1 or 2 days after FNAB and vocal cord paralysis ipsilateral to FNAB was determined by flexible laryngoscopy. Vocal cord paralysis of all patients resolved spontaneously within 6 months (average, 4 months).

Although the incidence of vocal cord paralysis in patients with thyroid tumor after FNAB is reported to be 0.036%, the true incidence is unknown because asymptomatic subjects are not screened. This report should alert the examiner to the possibility of vocal cord palsy after FNAB.