Vocal fold mobility alteration reversed after thyroidectomy

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Endocrinology
• Neurology

Background:

• Vocal cord mobility derangement is often linked to recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) involvement, frequently due to thyroid malignancy.
• While uncommon, benign thyroid conditions can also cause vocal cord immobility through direct recurrent laryngeal nerve compression by enlarged goiters.

Observation:

• The study presents three cases of unilateral vocal cord palsy diagnosed via laryngoscopy.
• Patients presented with large, compressive goiters that were implicated in the vocal cord dysfunction.

Findings:

• Vocal fold mobility returned to normal in all three patients following thyroidectomy.
• This suggests that vocal cord immobility caused by benign compressive goiters is often reversible with surgical treatment.

Implications:

• These findings underscore the potential reversibility of vocal cord mobility disturbances after appropriate surgical intervention.
• Early surgical management is recommended to minimize nerve injury and preserve recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) integrity, potentially restoring function.