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Vocal fold palsy following vinca alkaloid treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

B. V. Burns  and
J. C. Shotton
B. V. Burns*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital, Maidstone, Kent, UK
J. C. Shotton
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital, Maidstone, Kent, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr B. V. Burns, M.B., Ch.B., Department of Otolaryngology, Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital, Church Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 IDT
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Abstract

We report two patients with Hodgkin's disease on chemotherapy, one with vincristine, the other with vinblastine, who were referred to the ENT department with a vocal fold palsy. These drugs are commonly used in the treatment of haematological malignancies, and head and neck sarcomas. Examination showed a unilateral immobile fold. No causative local pathology was identified, and they were otherwise thought to be achieving remission, but the development of a fold palsy suggested a poor response to treatment. One patient's palsy resolved following completion of chemotherapy, but the other patient's persists, despite an otherwise good response to the treatment. The vinca alkaloids are neurotoxic, usually causing a peripheralneuropathy, but cranial mononeuropathies are a rare side-effect. A total of 27 previous cases of vocal fold palsy have been reported with the use of the vinca alkaloids, and such a lesion should not be assumed to be due to advancing lymphoma.

Keywords

Vinca alkaloids, complicationsVincristineVinblastineVocal fold palsy
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 5 , May 1998 , pp. 485 - 487
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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