title: Ultrasonic scissors-assisted 'open-book' thyroidectomy in massive goiter compressing airway and causing unilateral vocal cord paralysis.
abstract: A massive goiter may constrict the trachea resulting in shortness of breath. Recurrent laryngeal nerve compression may cause vocal cord paralysis. We highlight a case of a 62- year-old female with a 30 year history of an anterior neck swelling gradually increasing in size. She presented with acute symptoms of upper airway obstruction and voice changes. Emergency thyroidectomy was performed by dividing the middle part of the gland using ultrasonic scissors. The recovery was uneventful and the patient regained normal vocal cord function post operatively.
authors: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus, 16150 Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. irfan@kb.usm.my.
authors: Irfan
authors: I
authors: M
authors: Ali Ango
authors: AA
authors: Yaroko
authors: Najeb
authors: N
authors: S M
authors: Centilnathan
authors: C
authors: Periasamy
mesh_terms: D001877:Books; D006042:Goiter; D006801:Humans; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis