Idiopathic bilateral vocal fold weakness.
OBJECTIVE
To describe an unrecognized clinical entity, idiopathic bilateral vocal fold weakness, and propose recommendations regarding the diagnosis and management of these cases.


METHODS
Retrospective, nonrandomized case study.


METHODS
All cases of bilateral vocal fold weakness evaluated at the University of Washington Voice Disorders Clinic between 1991 to 1998 were reviewed.


RESULTS
Four patients with bilateral laryngeal weakness were determined to have idiopathic bilateral vocal fold paresis following exhaustive workups, including videostroboscopy, bilateral laryngeal electromyography (EMG), neurological consultation, and other pertinent studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Performing bilateral laryngeal EMG is an essential aspect of the workup of any laryngeal weakness case, particularly if the etiology is unknown on presentation. Idiopathic bilateral vocal fold weakness is an underrecognized but real clinical diagnosis that will become more familiar with the increasing utilization of laryngeal EMG in clinical situations.
Dray
T G
TG
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195, USA.
Robinson
L R
LR
Hillel
A D
AD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*