Hoarseness of voice due to Vocal Cord Palsy (VCP) resulting from aortic aneurysm is a rare entity. Hoarseness due to left Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve (RLN) paralysis caused by identifiable cardiovascular disease has been described as Ortner's syndrome or Cardiovocal syndrome. Very rarely, thoracic aortic aneurysm can cause Phrenic Nerve (PN) palsy causing hemidiaphragm paralysis. But, aortic aneurysm causing both RLN and PN palsy is an extremely rare occasion. Our literature review showed only three cases of combined RLN and PN palsy due to thoracic aortic aneurysm. Here we report a 70-year-old patient having hoarseness of voice for six years for which he was on symptomatic treatment. He presented to us with cough and blood tinged sputum, left sided chest pain, loss of appetite and weakness since two months duration. Based on clinical history and chest radiograph, lung malignancy was suspected. To our surprise, Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) revealed partially thrombosed saccular thoracic aneurysm originating distal to origin of left subclavian artery. He was referred to the cardiothoracic vascular surgeon for surgical treatment, but was reluctant to go for surgery. He is now being followed up by cardiothoracic vascular surgery and cardiology department and his condition has remained the same.
Aims and Objective: We aimed to compare serum vitamin D level in new onset Graves' disease versus age and sex matched controls. Furthermore, we assessed the correlation of vitamin D with hormonal parameters and antibody titers in Graves' disease. Materials and Methods: In total, 84 patients of new onset Graves' disease and 42 age and sex matched healthy individuals were recruited. Biochemical and hormonal investigations that included serum calcium, phosphorous, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were done for all subjects. Thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) was measured only for Graves' disease patients. Results: The patients with Graves' disease had significantly lower 25(OH) D levels (19.2 ± 8.9 ng/ml) as compared to control subjects (23.8 ± 12.5 ng/ml) ( P = 0.019). Thyroid hormone levels, thyroid volume, and TRAb titers did not differ significantly between vitamin D deficient Graves' disease group (25(OH)D <20 ng/ml) and vitamin D non deficient Graves' disease group (25(OH)D ≥20 ng/ml). Furthermore, serum vitamin D level did not correlate significantly with thyroid hormones, thyroid volume, or TRAb titers among Graves' disease. The odds ratio (OR) for association of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) state and Graves' disease was 1.62 (95% CI 0.77–3.41). Vitamin D sufficiency state was associated significantly with lower risk of Graves' disease (OR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–0.95). Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels are significantly lower in new onset Graves' disease. No significant correlation between vitamin D and thyroid hormones, thyroid volume, or TRAb titers was found in these patients. VDD state is not associated with Graves' disease.
Background Differentiating Graves’ disease from thyroiditis can be at times clinically challenging. The gold standard test (thyroid nuclear imaging scan) is expensive, not routinely available, and has radiation exposure. Color Doppler ultrasonography of thyroid represents a suitable alternate which can be used for differentiating these conditions by studying thyroid blood flow parameters. Aim We aimed to investigate the use of thyroid blood flow parameters’ assessment of the superior thyroid artery (STA) and common carotid artery (CCA) with color Doppler ultrasonography for differentiating Graves’ disease from thyroiditis. Materials and Methods This is a cross-sectional study on 111 patients with newly diagnosed thyrotoxicosis (82 with Graves’ disease and 29 with thyroiditis) and 45 years of age and sex-matched healthy controls. All patients underwent detailed clinical and necessary investigations. Color Doppler ultrasonography of the thyroid gland and spectral flow analysis of both superior thyroid arteries was done using standard protocol. Sensitivity and specificity for mean peak systolic velocity of STA (STA-PSV) cut-offs were calculated using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results Patients with Graves’ disease have significantly higher free tri-iodothyronine (FT3) levels, free thyroxine (FT4) levels, antithyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TRAb) levels, and thyroid volume as compared with those with thyroiditis. The mean STA-PSV of patients with Graves’ disease was significantly higher than thyroiditis and control group. Mean STA-PSV greater than 54.3 cm/s had 82.9% sensitivity and 86.2% specificity in diagnosing Graves’ disease. Mean PSV-STA/PSV-CCA ratio of 0.40 was 80.5% sensitive and 86.2% specific for Graves’ disease. Conclusion Mean STA-PSV has high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating Graves’ disease from thyroiditis and can be used routinely in clinical practice as a cheap and invaluable diagnostic tool.
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