Applying Translaryngeal Ultrasonography in Unilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis before Thyroid Cancer Reoperation: A Single Center Study

Sam Moslemi; Shirzad Nasiri; Sina Sharghi; Aidin Yaghoubi Notash

doi:10.18502/ajs.v7i2.16361

Sam Moslemi Division of Endocrine Surgery, General Surgery Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Shirzad Nasiri Division of Endocrine Surgery, General Surgery Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sina Sharghi Division of Endocrine Surgery, General Surgery Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Aidin Yaghoubi Notash Division of Colorectal and Cancer Surgery, General Surgery Department, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ajs.v7i2.16361

Keywords: Thyroid Surgery, Thyroid Cancer, Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve, Translaryngeal Ultrasound, Vocal Cords, Videolaryngoscopy

Abstract

Background: One of the most dangerous complications of thyroid surgery is recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis. The gold standard method to assess this damage is Videolaryngoscopy. However, we aimed to modify this approach by using Translaryngeal Ultrasonography (TLUS). We performed TLUS with a highly trained thyroid sonographer and an endocrine surgeon in 47 patients with recurrent thyroid cancer and unilateral RLN paralysis preoperatively, and compared the results with Videolaryngoscopy. The experienced sonographer identified 45 injuries in 47 patients, and the endocrine surgeon found 39 vocal cord injuries. It appears that TLUS, when performed by experienced practitioners, is a more accurate and safe modality for assessing vocal cord function in the preoperative setting of thyroid cancer reoperation.