Vocal cord paralysis in association with pulmonary emboli

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and vocal cord paralysis due to mitral stenosis was first described in 1897 (Ortner 1897). Since then other cardiovascular causes, including hypertension, coronary heart disease, aortic aneurysm and congenital heart disease have been described. There are two recorded cases of left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy due to pulmonary embolism (Albertini 1972; Wilmhurst et al. 1983). We describe what we believe to be the third case.