title: Bilateral recurrent nerve paralysis associated with multinodular substernal goiter: a case report.
abstract: Substernal goiter is an infrequent occurrence and is found in two to five per cent of all patients undergoing thyroid surgery. These lesions are well known to cause respiratory symptoms and alterations in phonation due to direct compression of airway structures. Infrequently, unilateral recurrent nerve palsy has been reported in patients with substernal goiter. We report a case of bilateral recurrent nerve palsy associated with multinodular substernal goiter in an 89-year-old female who presented in respiratory distress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mercer University School of Medicine, The Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ayoub
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jerles
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Dalton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*