Abstract
Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis has been classified as postoperative and non-postoperative. The condition caused by thoracic aortic aneurysm is classified as non-postoperative, and patients may present with only hoarseness of the voice. Since the prognosis after rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysmis extremely poor, precise early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential.
This case report describes a 59-year-old man who was referred to our clinic with the chief complaint of a one-month's history of hoarseness of the voice, with no other remarkable respiratory symptoms. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed fixation of the left vocal cord and redness of the left epiglottic fold and false cord. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the neck demonstrated a heterogeneous lesion in the left larynx and a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Because we could not rule out cancer on the basis of the laryngoscopic and CT findings, especially on account of a history of heavy tobacco use in the patient, we performed microscopic laryngeal surgery, and malignancy was ruled out.
Then, based on the CT and MRI findings, the patient was diagnosed as having a thoracic aortic aneurysm.
Although artificial vessel replacement grafting was successfully performed, no resolution of the recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was obtained.
