Thyroplasty type I was performed on 12 patients in the terminal stage of cancer with unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The mean age at the time of surgery was 78.6. years. Of these patients, there were 8 cases of lung cancer, and single cases of thyroid anaplastic cancer, malignant lymphoma, thymus cancer, and chronic heart failure. The preoperative mean maximum phonation time (MPT) was 2.8 seconds, which became 10.8 seconds (p<0.01) postoperatively. In all patients, preoperative silent aspiration improved. Postoperative survival times ranged from 1 to 9 months. Among these patients, a few cases indicating arytenoid adduction were observed. Thyroplasy type I can be done safely in a short time without suffering. For patients in the terminal stage of cancer, the reduction of the suffering from breathy hoarseness due to unilateral vocal cord paralysis is beneficial.
