Vocal fold paresis

Vocal fold paresis (VFP) is a relatively common and often overlooked condition that can be difficult to diagnose based on the laryngeal examination alone. A retrospective review of the records of 50 consecutive adult patients with VFP was performed. In each case, the diagnosis of VFP was confirmed by laryngeal electromyography. The presenting symptoms were dysphonia (100%), vocal fatigue (76%), diplophonia (40%), and odynophonia (12%), and the findings were unilateral vocal fold hypomobility (50%), unilateral bowing (36%), and bilateral bowing (22%). Laryngoplasty and/or lipoinjection was performed in 54% of the subjects, and significant vocal improvement was achieved in 85%. VFP appears to be underdiagnosed because many VFP patients have compensatory hyperkinetic disorders at presentation. Although the diagnosis of VFP may be suspected based on the patient's symptoms and findings, the diagnostic sine qua non is laryngeal electromyography. In addition, surgical treatment for VFP appears to be safe and effective.

[1]  J. Koufman,et al.  Surgical Correction of Dysphonia Due to Bowing of the Vocal Cords , 1989, The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology.

[2]  F. Walker,et al.  The cricothyroid muscle does not influence vocal fold position in laryngeal paralysis , 1995, The Laryngoscope.

[3]  S. Schaefer,et al.  Laryngeal electromyography. , 1991, Otolaryngologic clinics of North America.

[4]  G. Dursun,et al.  Superior laryngeal nerve paresis and paralysis. , 1996, Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice Foundation.

[5]  J. Koufman.  The Otolaryngologic Manifestations of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A Clinical Investigation of 225 Patients Using Ambulatory 24‐Hour pH Monitoring and an Experimental Investigation of the Role of Acid and Pepsin in the Development of Laryngeal Injury , 1991, The Laryngoscope.

[6]  H Nichol,et al.  Diagnostic criteria in functional dysphonia , 1986, The Laryngoscope.

[7]  J. Koufman,et al.  Functional voice disorders. , 1991, Otolaryngologic clinics of North America.

[8]  J. Koufman.  Approach to the patient with a voice disorder. , 1991, Otolaryngologic clinics of North America.

[9]  F. Lejeune,et al.  Otolaryngologic manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease. , 1999, The Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society : official organ of the Louisiana State Medical Society.

[10]  E. Klinkenberg-Knol,et al.  Otolaryngologic manifestations of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. , 1998, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. Supplement.