title: Thyrotoxicosis presenting as acute bulbar palsy.
abstract: Myopathy chiefly affecting the proximal muscles of the limbs is frequently seen in hyperthyroidism. But isolated acute bulbar palsy without skeletal muscle involvement is rare in thyrotoxicosis. We report the case of a 52 year old man who presented with severe dysphagia, dysphonia and bouts of aspiration. Laboratory testing revealed an underlying Graves' thyrotoxicosis. His symptoms recovered dramatically within 6 weeks with treatment of hyperthyroidism. This case is reported to emphasize that thyrotoxicosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia of obscure etiology.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, St. Johns Medical Colege and Hospital, Bangalore.
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Anup J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Devasia
authors.forename: Vaggesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ayyar
authors.forename: Vijayasree
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thyagaraj
authors.forename: Geetha Ann
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Francis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010244:Bulbar Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D002231:Carbimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055154:Dysphonia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D002231:Carbimazole; D011433:Propranolol