Neck ultrasonography for the evaluation of the etiology of adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis

作者：Wang Cheng Ping; Chen Tseng Cheng; Lou Pei Jen; Yang Tsung Lin; Hu Ya Ling; Shieh Ming Jium; Ko Jenq Yuh; Hsiao Tzu Yu^*

来源：Head and Neck-Journal for the Sciences and Specialties of the Head and Neck, 2012, 34(5): 643-648.

DOI：10.1002/hed.21794

• ultrasound
• thyroid cancer
• recurrent laryngeal nerve
• vagus nerve
• esophageal cancer
• lung cancer

Background An extralaryngeal neoplasm involving the vagus nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve must be excluded when adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis is diagnosed.
Methods. Between 2004 and 2009, 53 adult patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis received neck ultrasonography. Patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer or with previously known cancers of the head and neck, thyroid, esophagus or lung, or with known etiology or trauma were excluded from this study.
Results. We included 26 men and 27 women. Ultrasonography revealed 16 patients (30%) having subclinical tumors, including thyroid papillary carcinoma in 7 patients, vagus nerve schwannoma in 2 patients, nodular goiter in 2 patients, malignant nodes in the lower neck in 4 patients, which were metastasized from lung cancer in 3 patients, esophageal cancer in 1 patient, and cervical esophageal cancer in 1 patient.
Conclusion. Neck ultrasonography is useful to detect subclinical neoplasia, causing unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Thyroid cancer is the most common neoplastic etiology of adult unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

• 出版日期2012-5