Chang Yaw-Wen, Lin Yaoh-Shiang, Jen Yee-Min, Dai Ming-Shen
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, No. 325, Cheng-Kung Road, Sec. 2, Neihu, 114 Taipei, Taiwan.
Support Care Cancer. 2004 Feb;12(2):129-31. doi: 10.1007/s00520-003-0544-7. Epub 2003 Nov 13.
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a frequent complication of a variety of cancers. It is easy to diagnose and not fatal. Bilateral VCP is rare and it is fatal if not appropriately managed. We encountered a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who developed bilateral VCP with hoarseness and respiratory distress 2 years after initial diagnosis. A tracheostomy was performed to restore airway patency.