Vocal Fold Paralysis Following Benign Thyroid Nodule Laser Thermal Ablation

Laser thermal ablation (LTA) is an increasingly common procedure to treat benign and malignant thyroid nodules, allowing patients to avoid thyroidectomy. There are few reported postprocedural complications of LTA among patients with benign thyroid nodules. While vocal fold paralysis is a well-known potential complication after thyroidectomy, we present the first case report of vocal fold paralysis following LTA. A female in her 80s presented to an outside endocrinologist with symptoms of hyperthyroidism and benign thyroid nodules. The patient underwent a fine needle aspiration biopsy, radioiodine uptake scan, radioactive thyroid ablation, and LTA at an outside institution. The patient first noticed hoarseness 2days after LTA, and she presented to our office with a weak, breathy voice more than 4months postprocedure. Videostroboscopic examination revealed immobility of the left vocal fold with incomplete glottic closure. After awake injection laryngoplasty in the office, the patient experienced voice improvement. In conclusion, LTA is a relatively new treatment modality with limited literature on adverse outcomes. As minimally invasive techniques such as LTA are becoming more common, it is essential to remain fully aware of risks to recognize and mitigate complications like vocal fold paralysis.