Invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by adenoid cystic carcinoma. An unusual cause of true vocal fold paralysis.
True vocal fold paralysis and goitre are both common problems encountered in ENT practice. Their co-existence, however, should arouse suspicion of the presence of malignant thyroid disease. A rare case of true vocal fold paralysis caused by a clinically occult subglottic adenoid cystic carcinoma, in a 72-year-old, is described. The existence of multinodular goitre in this patient was co-incidental and confounded the diagnostic process.
Hogg
R P
RP
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. richard.hogg@virgin.net
Kuo
M J
MJ
Olliff
J
J
Das Gupta
A R
AR
D000368:Aged; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*