Case Report

Long Standing Dysphonia Associated with Coexisting Benign Vocal Fold Nodule and Benign Multinodular Goitre: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Chronic dysphonia may arise from structural vocal fold lesions, inflammatory conditions, functional voice disorders, or other laryngeal and systemic causes. Coexisting thyroid enlargement can complicate clinical assessment, although coexistence does not establish a causal relationship. Case presentation: A 56-year-old woman presented with a seven-year history of persistent voice change and recurrent episodes of dry cough. Her medical history included hypertension and reflux symptoms for ten years. Laryngoscopy demonstrated a left vocal fold nodule with a phonatory gap. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the neck showed an approximately 1 mm enhancing focal lesion along the left vocal fold and a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland with bilateral nodules. The right thyroid lobe extended posteromedially and abutted the adjacent oesophageal wall, with a possible retropharyngeal goitre described radiologically. Thyroid ultrasonography classified the nodules as TI-RADS II. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was reported as Bethesda category II (benign). Thyroid function tests were normal. The patient underwent microlaryngeal surgery, after which her voice improved significantly. Histopathology confirmed it as vocal cord nodule, and the thyroid enlargement was managed conservatively. Conclusion: This case illustrates the importance of assessing persistent dysphonia in the presence of coexisting laryngeal and thyroid abnormalities. The relationship between the thyroid findings and voice symptoms remains uncertain. Documentation of histopathology, vocal fold mobility and objective postoperative voice outcomes would strengthen the clinical interpretation.

Authors affiliation:

Avinash    Kumar (ORCID): Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Sharda School of Medical Sciences and Research (SSMSR), Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Shreya Jain: Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Anwarpur, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Garima Sinha (ORCID): Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Mansi Sharma: Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences (SIMS), Anwarpur, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vandana Arora: Department of Histopathology, Sharda Care – Healthcity, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

How To Cite: A. Kumar, S. Jain, G. Sinha, M. Sharma, and V. Arora. Long Standing Dysphonia Associated with Coexisting Benign Vocal Fold Nodule and Benign Multinodular Goitre: A Case Report. Journal of Applied Health Sciences and Medicine, 6(11):1–6, 2026. https://doi.org/10.58614/jahsm6111