Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology (대한기관식도과학회지)

The Korean Bronchoesophagological Society (대한기관식도과학회)
권호 표지

A Case of Functional Recovery of the Postoperative Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Rt. Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Invasion

우측 반회후두신경을 침범한 갑상선 유두상암 환자의 수술 후 발생한 양측 성대 마비의 회복 1예

  • Mun, Mi Jin (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Wang, Soo Geun (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Lee, Yoon Se (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Lim, Yun-Sung (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Lee, Jin Chun (Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Kang, Yang Ho (Department of Internal Medicine Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Son, Seok Man (Department of Internal Medicine Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan) ;
  • Kim, In Joo (Department of Internal Medicine Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute Busan)
  • 문미진 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 왕수건 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 이윤세 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 임윤성 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 이진춘 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 이비인후과학교실) ;
  • 강양호 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 내과학교실) ;
  • 손석만 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 내과학교실) ;
  • 김인주 (부산대학교 의학전문대학원 내과학교실)
  • Received : 2011.03.31
  • Accepted : 2011.07.19
  • Published : 2011.06.30
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a common complication after thyroidectomy despite the continuity of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is preserved. Much efforts have been made into preventing VCP, but few of them focuses on the treatment strategies and prognosis after VCP take place. In this case, patient visited the clinic for papillary thyroid cancer in Rt. thyroid gland without VCP. She underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection. During dissection, Rt main mass was encircling Rt. RLN. To make matters worse, Lt. RLN was severed due to tight attachment with Berry's ligament. After that, intratumoural dissection of Rt. RLN and end to end anastomosis of Lt. RLN were performed with microscopy to preserve the functions of RLNs as much as possible, otherwise permanent bilateral VCPs were inevitable. We report this case, since both vocal cords recovered from VCPs with symmetric, synchronous movements at postoperative follow up.

Keywords