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Impaired vocal cord mobility in the setting of acute suppurative thyroiditis
C M Boyd1, R M Esclamado, S A Telian
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
Background:
Acute suppurative thyroiditis is an increasingly rare entity, accounting for less than 0.1% of thyroid surgery. This is the first report in the literature of acute thyroiditis causing a unilateral reversible vocal cord paralysis.
Methods:
A 41-year-old woman was initially seen with a unilateral vocal cord paralysis resulting from acute suppurative thyroiditis.
Results:
The vocal cord paralysis resolved following surgical drainage of the thyroid abscess and treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
Conclusions:
We present this case to emphasize the need for a complete and thorough head and neck exam including preoperative documentation of vocal cord mobility.