Cisplatin induced reversible bilateral vocal cord paralysis: an undescribed complication of cisplatin

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is uncommon. Most cases occur secondary to trauma, malignancy, surgery, or intubation. Also, it was reported as a side effect of Vinca alkaloids.

We report a patient with small cell lung cancer who developed bilateral vocal cord paralysis and needed to be intubated after treatment with cisplatin and etoposide. All workups excluded metastases as a cause of bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The patient required tracheostomy; she did not receive any further chemotherapy. After 11 weeks, vocal cord paralysis disappeared, tracheostomy was reversed, and the patient remained symptom free; however, 6 months later, the patient developed brain and liver metastases and died from her disease with no evidence of vocal cord paralysis.

We report a case of reversible bilateral vocal cord paralysis that we believe to be secondary to cisplatin toxicity, which is an undescribed complication of this drug.

Cisplatin can induce reversible bilateral vocal cord paralysis. The concurrent use of cisplatin and etoposide might have contributed to this complication in our patient.