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Impaired vocal cord mobility in the setting of acute suppurative thyroiditis
Author(s) -
Boyd Charles M.,
Esclamado Ramon M.,
Telian Steve A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0347(199705)19:3<235::aid-hed13>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - medicine , vocal cord paralysis , thyroiditis , cord , paralysis , thyroid , intravenous antibiotics , surgery , abscess , subacute thyroiditis , thyroidectomy , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
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. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 19: 235–237, 1997.