Benign thyroid disease causing RLN palsy

Abstract

Patients with goiter who have associated RLN palsy and/or hoarseness of voice are usually thought to have a malignant goiter, which has directly or indirectly involved the RLN. However, cases of vocal cord palsy in the setting of benign thyroid disease, though rare has been reported in literature. We present five cases of vocal cord palsy associated with benign thyroid disease and discuss the mechanisms of the vocal cord paralysis and also highlight the impact of early surgery on voice recovery. © Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd.