1/76. Benign disease of the thyroid gland and vocal fold paralysis.Development of vocal fold paralysis in the presence of thyroid disease is strongly indicative of thyroid cancer, and requires surgical exploration. At the same time, vocal fold paralysis does not relieve the surgeon of his obligation to identify and preserve the recurrent laryngeal nerves, since the cause of the paralysis may be a benign disease, with a fair chance of functional recovery after surgery. We hereby report a case of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy secondary to a multinodular goitre.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cancer (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/76. Low-dose vincristine-associated bilateral vocal cord paralysis.BACKGROUND: vincristine-associated peripheral neuropathy is a well-described entity. We describe a case of vincristine-induced vocal cord paralysis, which is a rare complication of this drug. We report herein the second case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in a patient receiving conventional doses of vincristine. OBJECTIVE: To present a case report of vincristine-associated vocal cord paralysis and to review the relevant English language literature on this subject. DESIGN: Report and review of the literature. SETTING: Outpatient community cancer center. PATIENT: A 58-year-old female with a diffuse large cell lymphoma stage IV receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone. RESULTS: Bilateral vocal cord paralysis occurred in this patient receiving vincristine as part of her chemotherapy regimen. In addition to this case there have been a total of 25 prior reports, which are reviewed in the text. CONCLUSION: The incidence of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in patients receiving vincristine on the usual low-dose schedule is low. Prompt withdrawal of the offending agent results in prompt recovery without untoward long-lasting sequela.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cancer (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/76. Superior vena cava obstruction in prostate cancer.This report describes the case history of a man with adenocarcinoma of the prostate. After an initial response to maximal androgen blockade, he developed massive mediastinal and cervical lymphadenopathy, causing left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and superior vena cava obstruction. biopsy confirmed metastatic prostate cancer and he responded well to local radiotherapy. The hormonal treatment of advanced prostate cancer is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = cancer (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/76. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis after anterior cervical discoidectomy and fusion in a case of whiplash cervical spine injury: a case report.BACKGROUND: Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is a risk of anterior cervical discoidectomy and fusion. We discuss the mechanism of vocal cord paralysis and the precautions necessary to avoid this catastrophic complication. A rare case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis after anterior cervical discoidectomy and fusion (ACD/F) is reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: The patient, a 37-year-old male, was paraplegic, had bilateral intrinsic hand muscle weakness and sphincter involvement following a whiplash cervical spinal injury. A C5-C6 ACD/F for traumatic C5-C6 disc prolapse was performed. On the third postoperative day, he developed difficulty in coughing and a husky voice. Otolaryngological evaluation revealed bilateral vocal cord paralysis. He later required a tracheostomy that partially alleviated his major symptoms. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing ACD/F, a mandatory preoperative evaluation of the vocal cords should be performed. An appropriate modification in surgical planning should be made if vocal cord palsy is diagnosed preoperatively to prevent bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Proper and judicious use of Cloward retractors is advocated.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8.9485242603837keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/76. Morphometric study of nucleus ambiguus in multiple system atrophy presenting with vocal cord abductor paralysis.AIM: To identify lesions responsible for vocal cord abductor paralysis (VCAP) in multiple system atrophy (MSA), we performed a morphometric study of the nucleus ambiguus which innervates the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. methods: Two autopsied cases of MSA presenting with VCAP and one control were examined. Both cases of MSA showed selective neurogenic atrophy of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles among the intrinsic laryngeal muscles, while no abnormalities were seen in the control. From a block of the medulla oblongata, sections 10 microm thickness were cut serially without spacing and stained with cresyl violet. The ambiguus neurons were counted in all the sections to make a histogram. RESULTS: In the control case, ambiguus neurons showed densely populated areas and sparsely populated areas alternately with significant difference in the mean neuronal density between two areas. In MSA, ambiguus neurons were significantly decreased in number at all levels. It indicates that the neurogenic atrophy of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle is derived from the neuronal loss of the nucleus ambiguus. CONCLUSION: Though it has still been controversial whether or not the ambiguus neurons are decreased in number in MSA with VCAP, we speculated possible reasons for the disagreement on the involvement of the nucleus ambiguus as follows: different mechanism of VCAP are playing role, and histometric data have been disturbed by factors such as split-cell counting error and marked variation in the distribution of the ambiguus neurons.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 35.794097041535keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/76. Malignant laryngotracheal obstruction: a way to treat serial stenoses of the upper airways.BACKGROUND: Six patients known to have inoperable esophageal carcinoma presented with stridor due to both malignant tracheal stenosis (n = 6) and bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Two patients also had respiratory-digestive fistula. methods: Patency was restored by endotracheal stenting plus unilateral cordectomy. Four patients had immediate relief. Two patients required enlargement of the cord incision. One of them declined reoperation and underwent tracheotomy. RESULTS: Stent function was uneventful. There was no dislodgement or mucous impaction. fistula seal was complete. There was no aspiration through the new-shaped glottic orifice. Peak expiratory flow increased from 24.4% /- 9.7% predicted normal before to 40.5% /- 13.7% after the procedure, whereas the dyspnea score decreased from 74.2 /- 12.7 to 24.2 /- 14.0. CONCLUSIONS: Restoration of airway continuity in serial laryngotracheal stenoses using a combined approach is a feasible technique in end-stage cancer patients. It effectively relieves respiratory distress and ensures voice preservation. In addition, it may avoid the risks of tracheotomy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = cancer (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/76. Cervical osteophytes presenting as unilateral vocal fold paralysis and dysphagia.Any process involving either the vagus nerve, its recurrent laryngeal branch or the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve may cause paralysis of the vocal fold. The most common cause is neoplasm. Clinically, the patients often present with a hoarse, breathy voice as well as symptoms of aspiration. The following represents a unique case of unilateral vocal fold paralysis and dysphagia caused by a degenerative disease of the cervical spine, resluting in extrinsic compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.080211138583728keywords = neoplasm (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/76. Congenital hypomyelination neuropathy in a newborn infant: unusual cause of diaphragmatic and vocal cord paralyses.We report a case of congenital hypomyelination neuropathy presenting at birth. The infant had generalized hypotonia and weakness. There was decreased respiratory effort along with a right phrenic nerve and left vocal cord paralyses. tongue fasciculations were present. Deep tendon reflexes were absent in the upper extremities and hypoactive (1 ) in the lower extremities. magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed no intracranial abnormalities, including normal cerebral myelination. Nerve conduction study showed absence of motor and sensory action potentials in the hands when the nerves in the upper limbs were stimulated. A motor response could be elicited only in the proximal leg muscles. Needle electromyography study was normal in the proximal limb muscles, but showed active denervation in the distal muscles of the arm and leg. These findings were thought to be consistent with a length-dependent sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy of axonal type with greater denervation of the distal muscles. A biopsy of the quadriceps muscle showed mild variability in fiber diameter, but no group typing or group atrophy. The muscle fibers showed no intrinsic abnormalities. biopsy of the sural nerve showed scattered axons with very thin myelin sheaths. There was also a nearly complete loss of large diameter myelinated fibers. No onion bulb formations were noted. These findings were thought to be consistent with congenital hypomyelination neuropathy with a component of axonopathy. dna analysis for identification of previously characterized mutations in the genes MPZ, PMP22, and EGR2 was negative. Several attempts at extubation failed and the infant became increasingly ventilator-dependent with increasing episodes of desaturation and hypercapnea. He also developed increasing weakness and decreased movement of all extremities. He underwent surgery at 2 months of age for placement of a gastrostomy tube and a tracheostomy. He was discharged from the hospital on a ventilator at 6 months of age. The infant was 13 months old at the time of submission of this report. Although he appears cognitively normal, he remains profoundly hypotonic and is on a home ventilator. There was no evidence of progressive weakness. Congenital hypomyelination neuropathy is a rare form of neonatal neuropathy that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a newborn with profound hypotonia and weakness. It appears to be a heterogeneous disorder with some of the cases being caused by specific genetic mutations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 53.691145562302keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/76. myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) presenting with laryngeal stridor and vocal fold paresis.myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common inherited muscle disorder and may present in numerous ways due to characteristic multisystem involvement. We report a 47-year-old man who presented with an 8-year history of slowly progressive dyspnea and episodic stridor. The laryngeal paresis was documented with videostroboscopy and laryngeal electromyography, and treated with tracheostomy and antimyotonia agents.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8.9485242603837keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/76. Effect of chronic electrical stimulation of laryngeal muscle on voice.Conventional surgical therapies for bilateral laryngeal paralysis sacrifice voice to enlarge the airway. Electrical pacing of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle to restore glottal opening and allow ventilation offers a new treatment approach. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether long-term stimulation of the PCA muscle altered perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic parameters of voice. Two patients underwent implantation of a Medtronic Itrel II laryngeal pacemaker. Voice evaluation was performed before surgery and at monthly postoperative sessions with the pacemaker off. Months of PCA stimulation did not change perceptual descriptors of voice quality. Measures of fundamental frequency and intensity, upper and lower limits of the dynamic frequency and intensity range, and phonatory flow rates were largely unaltered. The results indicated that there was no effect of laryngeal pacing on voice.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 53.691145562302keywords = muscle (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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