Impaired vocal cord mobility in the setting of acute suppurative thyroiditis.
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.
Boyd
C M
CM
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109, USA.
Esclamado
R M
RM
Telian
S A
SA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D013969:Thyroiditis, Suppurative / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents