Vocal cord paralysis secondary to a benign parathyroid cyst: a case report with clinical,imaging and pathological findings (2008:6b)

Parathyroid cysts are uncommon entities. Symptomatic parathyroid cysts are extremely rare with approximately only 200 cases reported in the literature. Only ten cases have been reported with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and none in the radiological literature. We present a case of parathyroid cyst and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis with illustrations of the clinical, radiological and pathological appearances as well as discussion on the management of this condition.     

良性甲状腺疾病术中避免损伤喉返神经的临床分析

目的总结甲状腺手术避免损伤喉返神经的方法及经验。方法回顾218例良性甲状腺疾病手术的临床资料,分析喉返神经与周围组织的解剖关系。术中均解剖暴露喉返神经(包括喉不返神经1例)并加以保护。结果 218例甲状腺良性疾病中,甲状腺腺瘤28例,结节性甲状腺肿187例,甲状腺机能亢进症1例,桥本甲状腺炎2例;全组无喉返神经损伤。结论在甲状腺良性病变手术中,要熟悉喉返神经的解剖结构、走行方向及其与周围器官的解剖关系,术中仔细寻找并显露好喉返神经,避免损伤。     

Complications after the surgical treatment of malignant thyroid disease

OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to document the complication rates after total thyroidectomy or lobectomy for malignant thyroid disease and to compare these rates with previously documented complication rates after operations for benign thyroid disease. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma at a tertiary military medical center from 1996 to 2000. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were identified with thyroid carcinoma, of which 81 underwent surgical treatment. Nine patients had complications related to their treatment, four were permanent. This included two cases of permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism, one case of phrenic nerve injury, and one case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. There is a statistically significant higher overall complication rate of this series (10%) in comparison to a similar series of patients surgically treated for benign thyroid disease (2%) when comparing only recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism (p = 0.02). There is also a higher overall complication rate (11% vs. 4.9%); however, this does not reach statistical significance (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism complication rates after operations for malignant thyroid disease are statistically higher in this series than complication rates after operations for benign thyroid disease. Overall complication rates are also higher for malignant thyroid disease as compared to benign thyroid disease. Before surgical treatment for malignant thyroid disease, patients should be counseled accordingly.     

Permanent iatrogenic vocal cord paralysis after I-131 therapy: a case report and literature review

A patient who underwent I-131 therapy for a solitary toxic thyroid nodule subsequently experienced vocal cord paralysis, a rare complication. The patient was examined because of hoarseness 1 week after treatment. Indirect laryngoscopy at the time confirmed right vocal cord paralysis. When the examination was repeated in 6 months, no improvement was noted; vocal cord paralysis was then declared permanent. Surprisingly, 11 months after the onset of symptoms, the patient observed improvement in her voice. At 14 months, she experienced complete vocal recovery. However, a computed tomography performed after this showed that her right vocal cord paralysis was unresolved. The apparent complete recovery of her voice is believed to be a result of adaptive compensatory mechanisms. Patients who recover from hoarseness after injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve should have cord function documented by indirect laryngoscopy or other means before the physician performs a procedure that could harm the contralateral nerve, because damage to this nerve could result in devastating consequences.     

喉返神经麻痹的CT表现

目的 分析喉返神经麻痹的CT表现，探讨其解剖和病理形态变化基础，提高对其影像学表现的认识。方法 搜集2001至2003年经临床诊断的喉返神经麻痹患者32例，回顾性分析CT资料。所有患者均行全颈部CT增强扫描，范围从舌骨水平到上胸部水平，层厚及间隔均为5mm。结果 喉返神经麻痹后，CT检查可出现一系列相应表现：杓会厌皱襞、杓状软骨及环杓关节前内侧移位，同侧梨状窝扩张、松弛27例（84．4％）；喉室扩大16例（50．0％）；声带不对称且固定11例（34．4％）等。结论 喉返神经支配除环甲肌以外的所有喉内肌，其麻痹后所支配的肌肉群可以发生去神经性萎缩。CT扫描可以有效地显示其相应改变，同时有助于明确麻痹原因。     

甲状腺癌喉返神经条件变异的病理学基础与术中神经监测相关性研究

 目的 研究甲状腺癌导致喉返神经(recurrent laryngeal nerve,RLN)条件变异的病理学特点,探讨甲状腺癌术中神经监测(intraoperative neuromonitoring,IONM)对RLN条件变异的识别、辨认及保护。方法 回顾性分析2012-03至2014-03在本院因甲状腺癌行甲状腺全切术并行IONM患者资料,依据肿瘤生物学特性,对RLN 条件变异进行病理学分类,为IONM 准确识别及有效保护RLN 提供病理学支持。结果 240例术中显露RLN共436支,其中发现条件变异48支(10.76％)。RLN条件变异与甲状腺癌生物学特性相关,依据病理类型将条件变异分为:位置变异型、形态变异型、病变浸润型。应用组分别检出:12、9、15支;非应用组分别检出:3、4、5支。2组RLN 条件变异识别率,分别为:36/215, 12/231,2组比较有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 RLN 条件变异是导致术中对RLN错误识别,以及造成RLN 损伤的重要潜在因素,IONM有利于术中确认RLN各种变异的病理解剖特点,以有效保护RLN。     

High-resolution sonography of the recurrent laryngeal nerve: anatomic and pathologic considerations

During sonographic examination of the neck using high-resolution small-parts equipment, the minor neurovascular bundle may be identified in virtually all patients. Postmortem studies in three cadavers demonstrated that this structure is actually the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). Furthermore, findings observed during sonographic examinations of the neck in nine patients with RLN paralysis of unknown origin were reviewed. Compression, displacement, or infiltration of the nerve from thyroid (seven cases) or parathyroid (two cases) nodules were noted, and this allowed the site and cause of the paralysis to be identified.     

Atrophy of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle as an indicator of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle is one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve. As such, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy should not only result in paralysis of the true vocal cord or thyroarytenoid muscle but also in a similar change in the PCA muscle. The ability of CT and MR imaging to depict denervation atrophy in the PCA muscle in patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was evaluated. METHODS: Two investigators reviewed the CT and/or MR studies of 20 patients with a clinical history of vocal cord paralysis. The appearance of the PCA muscle was given a rating of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with 0 being definitely normal and 4 being definitely abnormal or atrophic. Each study was also reviewed for the presence or absence of other features of vocal cord paralysis: thyroarytenoid muscle atrophy, anteromedial deviation of the arytenoid cartilage, an enlarged piriform sinus and laryngeal ventricle, and a paramedian cord. RESULTS: Atrophy of the PCA muscle was shown unequivocally in 65% of the cases and was most likely present in an additional 20%. The frequency with which other features of vocal cord paralysis were seen was as follows: thyroarytenoid atrophy, 95%; anteromedial deviation of the arytenoid cartilage, 70%; enlarged piriform sinus, 100%; enlarged laryngeal ventricle, 90%; and a paramedian cord, 100%. CONCLUSION: Atrophy of the PCA muscle may be commonly documented on CT and MR studies in patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and vocal cord paralysis, and therefore should be part of the constellation of imaging features of vocal cord paralysis. This finding is particularly useful when other imaging findings of vocal cord paralysis are absent or equivocal.     

A rare case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis: neurovascular conflict due to an aberrant bronchial artery detected at computed tomography

We report the case of a 29-year-old patient without medical history presenting with dysphonia associated with left unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The patient underwent a contrast-enhanced computed tomography with an angiographic arterial phase of the head, neck and chest, and the only significant finding was the presence of a large, aberrant right bronchial artery originating directly from the aortic arch, where the recurrent left laryngeal nerve loops. After excluding alternative etiologies, the hypothesis of neurovascular conflict between this vessel and the recurrent left laryngeal nerve was formulated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature. Thanks to its high spatial resolution, contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the examination of choice for the study of anatomical variants and should be included in the routine work-up of patients presenting with unilateral vocal cord paralysis.     

喉返神经损伤早中期神经减压和神经吻合的对照研究

目的探讨单侧喉返神经损伤声带麻痹时喉返神经探查减压术和喉返神经端端吻合术的疗效及适应证。方法病程半年以内外伤性喉返神经损伤声带麻痹患者42例，分为神经减压组15例、喉返神经端端吻合组6例、保守治疗组21例。神经减压组为神经探查术中发现喉返神经缝线结扎、瘢痕压迫，予以松解。治疗前后以喉镜、嗓音声学参数、肌电图检查等评价手术效果。结果神经减压组，病程4个月内神经减压13例中11例不同程度恢复声带内收及外展功能；另2例及病程4个月以上减压的2例，声带虽未恢复运动功能，但恢复了正常的肌张力、肌体积，声带振动及黏膜波对称，嗓音亦恢复正常。喉返神经端端吻合组喉内收肌也获得了神经再支配，声音基本恢复正常，但声带均未恢复运动功能。保守治疗组声嘶有改善，但声带运动功能未恢复。肌电图检查进一步证实神经减压组喉功能恢复最佳。结论早中期喉返神经探查减压能恢复麻痹声带正常的运动功能，喉返神经端端吻合术使喉内收肌获得了神经再支配，声音基本恢复正常。     

Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis: a laryngographic and computed tomographic study

Vocal cord paralysis is a relatively common entity, usually resulting from a pathologic process of the vagus nerve or its recurrent laryngeal branch. It is rarely caused by intralaryngeal lesions. Fourteen patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) were evaluated by laryngography, computed tomography (CT), or both. In the evaluation of the paramedian cord, CT was limited in its ability to differentiate between tumor or RLNP as the cause of the fixed cord, but it yielded more information than laryngography on the structural abnormalities of the larynx and pre-epiglottic and paralaryngeal spaces. Laryngography revealed distinct features of RLNP and is the procedure of choice for evaluation of functional abnormalities of the larynx until further experience with faster CT scanners and dynamic scanning of the larynx is gained.     

Recurrence paralysis: computed tomographic analysis of intrathoracic findings]

The long and singular course of the inferior (recurrent) laryngeal nerve makes it very vulnerable to infiltration by tumors of various locations. In particular, mediastinal and pulmonary lesions must be considered in the case of left vocal chord palsy. Recurrent nerve paralysis caused by a tumor indicates advanced disease. We retrospectively reviewed the computed tomography (CT) findings in 29 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma or mediastinal tumors and recurrent nerve paralysis with respect to the site, size and extent of the tumor and the lymph node status. The review revealed a marked predominance of left upper lobe tumors with extensive lymph node metastases to the anterior mediastinum and the aortopulmonary window. The extent of mediastinal involvement exceeded the average involvement in a control group of 30 randomly selected patients with bronchogenic carcinoma at the time of presentation. In all patients CT demonstrated tumor tissue which could have caused the paralysis at one or more sites along the anatomical course of the recurrent nerve. In most cases the tumor was located at the aortic arch. The left paratracheal region, right paratracheal region and right pulmonary apex were affected in one case each. We conclude that in patients with cancer, CT is a suitable method for localizing a recurrent nerve lesion.     

甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经的意义

目的：探讨甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经的临床应用价值。方法：将甲状腺手术患者286例随机分为显露喉返神经组与非显露喉返神经组,对两组手术中及手术后喉返神经损伤情况进行对照研究。结果：显露组喉返神经损伤2例,未显露组损伤11例,显露组发生喉返神经损伤率显著低于未显露组（P〈0.05）。结论：甲状腺手术中显露喉返神经可以有效保护喉返神经并预防喉返神经损伤。     

Vocal cord paralysis in a fighter pilot

We present in this case report the return to flying duty of a pilot with vocal cord paralysis secondary to removal of a thymoma. We discuss the importance of glottic function as it pertains to the unique aviation environment. We also discuss the anatomy and physiology of the glottis, the evaluation for vocal cord paralysis, and surgical approaches for paralyzed vocal cords. Although the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis is low in the military aviation community, it is important to recognize that its sequelae can be managed so that the aviator may return to flight duties.     

Acute suppurative thyroiditis due to foreign body-induced retropharyngeal abscess presented as thyrotoxicosis

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is an uncommon condition. Most patients have preexisting oropharyngeal fistulae. Penetrating oropharyngeal injuries resulting from swallowed foreign bodies provide an acquired channel of infection spreading into the relatively resistant thyroid gland. The authors describe a patient with infective thyroiditis complicating retropharyngeal abscess caused by a chicken bone that perforated the upper esophagus. Transient thyrotoxicosis complicating acute suppurative thyroiditis is very rare. Pertechnetate and Ga-67 scans confirmed extensive inflammation of the thyroid gland and the release of hormones as the cause, as distinct from concurrent Graves' disease. Awareness of this unusual complication is important to avoid inappropriate treatment for hyperthyroid disease.     

经腋窝径路腔镜甲状腺手术临床效果观察

目的探讨经腋窝径路腔镜甲状腺手术在甲状腺良性病变治疗中的应用。方法回顾性分析65例经腋窝径路腔镜甲状腺手术治疗甲状腺良性病变临床效果。结果本组病例包括结节性甲状腺肿45例,结节性甲状腺肿伴甲状腺炎9例,甲状腺腺瘤11例。平均手术时间(130±25.8)min,无中转开放手术,无喉上及喉返神经损伤,术后恢复顺利,无并发症。结论经腋窝径路腔镜甲状腺手术对甲状腺良性病变是安全可行的手术方式,可免除颈部切口瘢痕。     

超声引导下射频消融甲状腺结节的并发症与预防方法探讨

目的通过对超声引导下射频消融治疗甲状腺结节并发症分析,探讨预防各种并发症的方法。方法观察111例甲状腺结节患者在射频消融治疗中、治疗后出现的各种并发症,并就其原因及预防方法进行探讨。结果本组病例均出现颈部疼痛,不能忍受者20例（18．02％）。术后放射性牙痛5例（4．50％）、放射性耳根痛7例（6．31％）,无任何处理,疼痛自行缓解。出血3例（2．70％）,经及时按压后出血停止。术后发生声音减低、饮水呛咳1例（0．90％）,无任何处置,观察2h声音自行恢复;喉返神经损伤2例（1．800．4）,经药物治疗1～L5个月后患者声音均恢复正常。结论超声引导下射频消融治疗甲状腺结节可能会发生喉返神经损伤、颈部出血、疼痛等并发症,但细心操作并随经验累积可将并发症降至最低;且喉返神经损伤多可在术后1～6个月恢复。采用“液体隔离带”辅助法是预防颈部重要结构受热损伤的一种有效手段。     

Transcutaneous ultrasound for evaluation of vocal fold movement in patients with thyroid disease

Background

Preoperative evaluation of recurrent laryngeal nerve function is important in the context of thyroid surgery. Transcutaneous ultrasound may be useful to visualize vocal fold movement when evaluating thyroid disease.

Methods

A 7–18 MHz linear array transducer was placed transversely on the midline of the thyroid cartilage at the anterior neck of patients with thyroid disease. The gray-scale technique was used, with the scan setting for the thyroid gland.

Results

Between August 2008 and March 2010, 705 patients, including 672 patients with normal vocal fold movement and 33 patients with vocal fold paralysis were enrolled. They included 159 male and 546 female patients. Their ages ranged from 10 to 88 years. Vocal fold movement could be seen by ultrasound in 614 (87%) patients, including 589 (88%) patients with normal vocal fold movement and 25 (76%) patients with vocal fold paralysis (p = 0.06). The mean age of patients with visible and invisible vocal fold movement was 46.6 and 57.9 years old, respectively (p = 0.001). Ultrasound was able to see vocal fold movement in 533 (98%) female patients but only in 81 (51%) male patients (p = 0.001). Among the patients with vocal fold paralysis, ultrasound revealed palsied vocal folds in 17 of 18 (94%) female patients but in only 8 of 15 (53%) male patients (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

Transcutaneous ultrasound represents an alternative tool to evaluate vocal fold movement for more than 85% of patients with thyroid disease, including more than 90% of female patients and about half of male patients.     

替代神经吻合法治疗喉返神经麻痹的解剖学研究

对３０例喉神经、膈神经颈的解剖观测及利用图象分析仪二维重建技术对相关神经的截面积、纤维数量的测量比较分析，结合有关实验研究资料，设计了在甲状软骨板后下方开窗鱼 甲的肌神经起点处切断该神经，用颈主支与甲杓肌神经吻合，用膈神经与喉下神经吻合，同时重建声带的内收和外展功能，并探讨了其解剖和生理学基础，认为此手术方法 神经麻痹是较理想和可行的。     

Using MR imaging to predict invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the accuracy of MR imaging findings for predicting invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by thyroid carcinoma and established an optimal criterion on which to base this prediction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed MR imaging findings (lesion size and posterior extension of tumor; encirclement of and invasion into the laryngeal cartilage, trachea, and esophagus by the tumor; and the amount of effaced fatty tissue in the tracheoesophageal groove or between the laryngeal cartilage and hypopharyngeal wall) in 66 patients with thyroid carcinoma. The amount of effaced fatty tissue was classified as one of five grades: 1, normal amount of fatty tissue; 2, partly effaced; 3, completely effaced in one MR imaging slice; 4, completely effaced in two contiguous MR slices; and 5, completely effaced in three or more contiguous MR slices. RESULTS: Thirty-two (48%) of the 66 patients had surgically or pathologically verified recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion. Logistic modeling revealed that the amount of effaced fatty tissue (p < 0.001) and the lesion size (p = 0.033) were the significant factors. Using the threshold values for the lesion size to predict invasion, we found that a threshold of more than 2.9 cm showed the highest accuracy, 76%, with 78% sensitivity and 74% specificity. For the amount of effaced fatty tissue, a grade of 3 or more had the highest accuracy, 88%, with 94% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Addition of the lesion size to this criterion did not improve the diagnostic accuracy of using the amount of effaced fatty tissue alone. CONCLUSION: Invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by thyroid carcinoma was accurately predicted by the finding of effaced fatty tissue on MR imaging.