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Vocal cord paralysis in patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma
Author(s) -
Tachimori Yuji,
Kato Hoichi,
Watanabe Hiroshi,
Ishikawa Tsutomu,
Yamaguchi Hajime
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930590406
Subject(s) - medicine , paralysis , vocal cord paralysis , carcinoma , cord , surgery
Of 478 consecutive patients with intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma, 5% had vocal cord paralysis. In two thirds of the patients with vocal cord paralysis, the paralysis was caused by a metastatic lymph node located along the recurrent laryngeal nerve. These findings indicate that the possibility exists for radical surgery by esophagectomy and resection of the metastatic lymph node infiltrating the recurrent laryngeal nerve, even in patients with vocal cord paralysis. However, in only two patients was radical surgery accomplished. None of the 24 patients with paralysis survived without disease for more than 1 year. Thus, in patients with vocal cord paralysis, the need for combined therapy should be emphasized.