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.