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Invasion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve by adenoid cystic carcinoma. An unusual cause of true vocal fold paralysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

R. P. Hogg*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
M. J. Kuo
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
J. Olliff
Affiliation:
Department of Radiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
A. R. Das Gupta
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Richard P. Hogg, Department of Otolaryngology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Fax: 0121 627 2299 e-mail: richard.hogg@virgin.net

Abstract

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.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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