A review was made on the topic of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis based on a survey of recent literature. Both surgical and non-surgical causes of laryngeal nerve paralysis were analyzed and a high incidence of extralaryngeal malignancies causing laryngeal paralysis was noted. As for diagnostic procedures, significance of phonatory and respiratory function tests for evaluation of the pathological condition was emphasized. From therapeutic standpoints, different types of functional surgery were reviewed and the potential of voice training was discussed.
