Vol.95 No.9 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 95 No. 9 September 2002
A Case of Forestier's Disease with Reversible
Laryngeal Paralysis
Kouichi Abe, Kousuke Ishii, Masanori Yamamoto,
Keiju Tsubaki, Masashi Haga and Katsumi Takizawa
(Omiya Medical Center Jichi Medical School)
A case of Forestier's disease with slight dysphagia and hoarseness in a 68-year-old male is reported. This case presented with reversible unilateral vocal fold paralysis.
In August 2000, another hospital referred this patient to us because of left laryngeal paralysis. However, he did not have laryngeal paralysis on examination in our department, although the hypopharyngeal posterior wall showed a protrusion covered by a normal mucosal surface. Cervical roentgenogram revealed a protrusion of the anterior cervical spine from C4 to C7.
In November 2000, after an observation period, we noted slight symptoms involving left vocal fold paralysis accompanied by dysphagia. Enhanced CT of the neck demonstrated swelling of left pyriform recess, arytenoid mucosa and bony proliferation of anterior cervical spine. In February 2001, vocal fold paralysis recovered without treatment.
We considered that reversible vocal fold paralysis in our case was caused by compression of the cricoarytenoid articulation and posterior cricoarytenoid muscle due to congestion. However, we must follow this patient strictly and consider surgical treatment if that becomes necessary.
Key words : Forestier's disease, reversible vocal fold paralysis, compression of cricoarytenoid articulation