Inability to speak, breathe, blink or eat: a case report of thyroid

Abstract

Thyroid gland ,one of the main endocrine glands in our body, responsible for production of thyroid hormones affects almost every system in the body. Not just the function but the location of the thyroid is equally important as growth or malignant infiltration can lead to involvement of various important structures like the trachea, esophagus, major blood vessels and nerves. This can lead to various compressive symptoms. :.horner’s syndrome is characterised by ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis of the involved side of face.

Background:. We hereby present a case of long standing thyroid swelling with rapid growth over the last two months which presented with features of dyspnea, dysphagia, change in voce and unilateral horner’s syndrome.

 Methods: a patient was referred to emergency department of rims with complains of difficulty in breathing and swallowing. There was a multinodular swelling present in the front of the neck. On enquiring she complained of change in voice. On examination discrepancy in pupillary diameter, with lid drooping and anhidrosis of left side of face was noted.

Results: the case was provisionally diagnosed as thyroid carcinoma due to hard palpable nodules. The patient was unwilling for surgery and was hence referred to department of oncosurgery, rims.

Conclusions: any swelling of the thyroid must be investigated thoroughly as there is always a risk of malignant transformation in long standing thyroid swellings. Also de differentiation in thyroid cancers leading to anaplastic cancers which are characterized by rapid growth is a known complication.