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Published on: April 21, 2020
[Cranio-cervical junction malformations: a rare cause of bilateral vocal cord paralysis]
A Benhammou1, M-A Benbouzid, R Bencheikh
1Service d'ORL et de Chirurgie Cervicofaciale, Hôpital des Spécialités, CHU Rabat-Salé, Maroc. aidabenhammou@gmail.com
Objectives:
To report a rare and reversible cause of bilateral vocal cord paralysis in an adult.
Material And Methods:
A 44 years old woman has consulted for a laryngeal stridor with hoarseness. This symptomatology was preceded by chronic headache and dizziness. The examination noted bilateral vocal cord paralysis in paramedian position, and a cerebellum syndrome. The patient underwent urgent tracheotomy.
Results:
A magnetic resonance imaging was performed for the etiologic research, and revealed a Chiari I malformation with a compression of the bulb. Neurosurgical decompression permitted resolution of the symptoms, and selvage of the tracheotomy was possible 2 months after surgery.
Conclusions:
Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is rare on Chiari I malformation. It's secondary to a direct compression or an ischemia of the brain stem. The oto-rhino-laryngologists have to know this etiology to make the diagnosis early and permit a neurosurgical treatment.
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