Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Subcutaneous Neurotrophin 4 Infusion Using Osmotic Pumps or Direct Muscular Injection Enhances Aging Rat Laryngeal Muscles
05:50

Subcutaneous Neurotrophin 4 Infusion Using Osmotic Pumps or Direct Muscular Injection Enhances Aging Rat Laryngeal Muscles

Published on: June 13, 2017

A 56-year-old woman with stress-induced hoarseness

Joerg Latus1, Ulrich Franke, M Dominik Alscher

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Robert-Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany. Joerg.latus@rbk.de

BMJ Case Reports
|May 19, 2012
PubMed

A 56-year-old woman was admitted to hospital due to stress-dependent hoarseness and hypertensive urgency. The patient reported peaks of blood pressure of 210/160 mm Hg in combination with hoarseness. With indirect mirror examination, the ear-nose-and throat doctor diagnosed a paralysis of the vocal cord on the left side. The authors suspected a mass affecting the vagus nerve and performed a CT-scan with iodinated contrast material of the neck and thorax. Surprisingly the CT-scan showed an aneurysm of the aortic arch with a dilatation up to 4.8 cm, a kinking of 120° and a chronic dissection in the aneurysm. During exercise or elevated blood pressure this aneurysm expanded and made a compression of the nervus laryngeus recurrens on the left side. Thus, there is an explanation for the patient's hoarseness on exertion and during hypertensive urgency.

More Related Videos

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)12:43

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Published on: February 21, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Stress01:20

Stress

When a force is applied on a body, it undergoes deformation. In order to restore the body to its original shape and/or size, an opposite or restoring force is generated within the body. This restoring force is equal to the magnitude of the applied force, but acts in the opposite direction. The amount of this restoring force developed per unit area of the body is called stress. Stress is a tensor quantity and has the SI unit pascal. Stress can be separated into four broad categories depending...
Larynx01:21

Larynx

The human larynx, often referred to as the voice box, is an intricate organ located in the neck. It serves as a pathway for air to enter the lungs during respiration and is an essential component of voice production.
Anatomy of the Larynx
The larynx consists of various components, including cartilage, muscles, and vocal cords. Its structure includes three large unpaired cartilages—the thyroid, cricoid, and epiglottis—and three smaller paired cartilages—the arytenoids, corniculates, and...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV01:26

Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV

Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
Menopause01:28

Menopause

Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
Psychological Responses to Stress01:20

Psychological Responses to Stress

Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
Chronic Pharyngitis01:23

Chronic Pharyngitis

Chronic pharyngitis refers to persistent inflammation of the pharyngial mucosa.
Etiology
It often arises from persistent viral or bacterial infections affecting sinuses and tonsils.
Additional contributing factors include inadequate dental hygiene, mouth breathing, recurring tonsillitis, allergic rhinitis, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and exposure to smoke, chemicals, and other environmental pollutants. Allergic reactions to pollen, mold, and pet dander, chronic cough, excessive voice usage,...