Laryngeal palsy occurs extremely rarely after radioiodine therapy for Graves' disease.
We describe a case of complete right laryngeal paralysis in a 73 year old man who
received two conventional doses of radioiodine (15 mCi) 9 months apart. He presented
one day after the radioiodine therapy with loss of voice, discomfort in the right
side of his neck, dry cough and throat irritation. The pain disappeared in a couple
of weeks but the dysphonia persisted. Direct laryngoscopy confirmed complete right
vocal cord paralysis and imaging excluded other regional pathology. His voice improved
progressively to full recovery by six months though the vocal paralysis persisted
even at 12 months of follow up. The case reminds physicians that radioiodine therapy
for Graves' disease may rarely cause complications that need timely recognition and
treatment.
Key-words:
Thyroid gland - Hyperthyroidism - Thyroiditis - Laryngeal Paralysis - Radioiodine.
