A Case of Vocal Cord Paralysis Secondary to Vertebral Artery Dolichoectesia: A Rare Presentation

Abstract

Vocal cord paralysis may arise from intra and extralaryngeal pathologies. Neurological pathology is a rare cause of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The most common neurological diseases inducing vocal cord paralysis are meningomyelocele, hydrocephalus, the Chiari malformation and bulbar palsy. The vocal cords are innervated by the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves (recurrent laryngeal nerve) that are branches of the vagal nerve. Compression of the vagal nerve for any reason at the level it leaves the medulla oblongata can lead to vocal cord paralysis (1).