Vocal cord paralysis following I-131 ablation of a postthyroidectomy remnant.

Vocal cord paralysis has been reported following I-131 therapy of thyrotoxicosis and following ablation of the whole thyroid. However, this rare complication has not previously been described following I-131 ablation of a postthyroidectomy remnant. We report a patient who required tracheostomy for bilateral vocal cord paralysis following I-131 ablation after near-total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma.