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Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
An unusual cause of hoarseness and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
1Phat Truong, a recent graduate of the PA program at Mercer University in Atlanta, Ga., practices orthopedic surgery in Dallas, Tex. Lisa Dickerson is an internist and a clinical assistant professor at Mercer University. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract:
Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and thyroid disease suggest locally invasive thyroid malignancy. In contrast, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy caused by benign multinodular goiters or ectopic thyroid tissue accounts for only 1% of cases. This article describes an unusual case of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy secondary to a benign ectopic retrosternal thyroid tissue mass. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with progressive voice weakness and hoarseness.
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