Etiopathogenesis and Diagnosis of Vocal Fold Palsy in a Tertiary Centre: A Retrospective Study

Objective: To profile the etiology of vocal fold paralysis (VFP) and the various diagnostic methods used to determine the aetiology in a tertiary care centre. Material and Methods: A retrospective review of the records of patients diagnosed with VFP in the last 5 years was done. Details about whether the vocal fold palsy was unilateral or bilateral, the diagnostic workup, and the final diagnosis were obtained from the records. Results: A total of 182 patients; comprising 118 males and 64 females, had VFP. Unilateral VFP was documented in 155 cases and bilateral VFP was documented in 27 patients. The cause for VFP was found to be neoplastic in 32.9% of cases, with lung cancer being the most common. Idiopathic VFP was observed in 31.9% of the cases. Trauma and inflammatory cause were diagnosed in 17% and 9.9% of cases, respectively. Neurological causes contributed to 8.2% of the cases. Contrast-enhanced computerised tomography (CT) was the most commonly used method to identify the cause. Conclusion: Identifying the aetiology of VFP is challenging. Thorough clinical examination followed by appropriate investigations is paramount to initiate an early intervention. We propose an algorithm for the same.