We reviewed the clinical records of 266 patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis examined at our department between 1978 and 1987, one hundred and fifty three males and 113 females. The highest incidence was found in those over 50 years of age. The lesion was unilateral in 244 patients (right in 54 and left in 190) and bilateral in 22. The paralytic vocal fold was fixed in the paramedian position in the majority of patients. The etiologic causes were frequently thyroid tumor, lung cancer, esophageal cancer and idiopathic paralysis. The incidence of paralysis due to malignant tumors increased with age. In the young age group paralysis due to heart surgery was frequent. A very high rate of recovery was observed in patients with paralysis due to endotracheal incubation.
