A lingual thyroid is a known cause of oropharyngeal obstruction in the neonate. It can be asymptomatic, or present as stridor, dysphonia, dysphagia or dyspnoea with faltering growth. The therapeutic options include surgical resection.

A 6-day-old female neonate, born at 36 weeks gestation, presented with stridulous breathing and poor feeding. Although the cause was initially thought to be laryngomalacia, nasendoscopy revealed a lingual thyroid. The baby had deranged thyroid function, as detected on neonatal screening, but this result was not available until a later date. Despite being symptomatic, the patient was managed medically; thyroxine therapy was associated with resolution of the respiratory symptoms.

Nasendoscopy provides valuable information about an ectopic thyroid gland. Thyroid replacement therapy may help to suppress the size of the ectopic gland and ultimately prevent an unnecessary surgical procedure.

Neuralgic amyotrophy is a polyneuropathy that classically involves the brachial plexus. This paper reports an unusual clinical manifestation associated with vocal fold paralysis.

A 36-year-old male presented with hoarseness and progressive weakness of the right shoulder and upper arm muscles. Laryngoscopy revealed a limited adduction of the right vocal fold.

Subsequent speech therapy did not improve the symptoms. Therefore, vocal fold augmentation by application of hyaluronic acid in the right vocal fold was performed.

Vocal fold augmentation with resorbable material seems to be a more effective transient treatment than speech therapy alone for patients with neuralgic amyotrophy and laryngeal involvement.