Unilateral associated laryngeal paralysis due to varicella-zoster virus: virus antibody testing and videofluoroscopic findings

Relationship between Swallowing Pressure and Saliva Residue on Endoscopic Evaluation in Pharyngeal Dysphagia

OBJECTIVE

In pharyngeal dysphagia, poor pharyngeal contraction and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction result in post-swallow saliva residue (SR). This study aimed to clarify the relationship between swallowing pressure and SR in the valleculae and piriform sinuses on flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES).

METHODS

Pharyngeal dysphagia patients with Wallenberg syndrome were included. Amounts of post-swallow SR in the valleculae and piriform sinuses were classified into four grades using SR scores based on FEES. The Hyodo score was also calculated to evaluate swallowing function. High-resolution manometric data in the nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, oro-hypopharyngeal, and UES zones on swallowing were obtained for comparison with SR and Hyodo scores.

RESULTS

Of the 31 recruited, data from 26 patients who successfully underwent FEES and manometry were analyzed. Vallecular SR scores were strongly negatively correlated with a maximum pressure of the oropharynx (r = -0.52, p = 0.006), distal contractile integrals (DCI) of the oropharynx (r = -0.52, p = 0.007), and DCI of the oro-hypopharynx (r = -0.55, p = 0.004). Hyodo scores for parameters 1 and 4 (corresponding to salivary pooling and pharyngeal clearance, respectively) were strongly negatively correlated with a maximum hypopharyngeal pressure (r = -0.57, p = 0.002) and strongly positively correlated with peristaltic velocity (r = 0.53, p = 0.007), respectively. SR scores and Hyodo scores related to SR were not correlated with pressure data of the UES.

CONCLUSION

Manometric analysis of our SR scoring method using FEES revealed that a higher amount of SR in the valleculae, but not in the piriform sinuses, is associated with weaker pharyngeal pressure in pharyngeal dysphagia, especially at the oropharyngeal level.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 134:3519-3526, 2024.

Vocal Fold Paralysis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: Query of VAERS Database

OBJECTIVE

Vocal fold paresis or paralysis (VFP) may severely affect quality of life due to dysphonia and respiratory distress. As an increasing percentage of the United States population receives the COVID-19 vaccination, the objective of this study is to determine the correlation of COVID-19 postvaccination recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and resulting VFP.

METHODS

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System database was queried for patients exhibiting symptoms of VFP following COVID-19 vaccination. Patient demographics and clinical information including presenting symptoms, time of symptom onset, time of diagnosis and laterality.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were found to have laryngoscopy confirmed VFP following COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccinations for Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen were reported. Of those reported, 13 patients were female (65.0%) and seven were male (35.0%), with a mean age of 61.8 years. The most common presenting symptom was a hoarse voice (30.0%). A majority of these cases were unilateral in nature (64.0%). Mean time from vaccination to symptom onset was 12.1 days and mean time from vaccination to diagnosis was 37.6 days.

CONCLUSION

For patients presenting with voice or swallowing complaints after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, prompt evaluation by an otolaryngologist should occur. However, the potential VFP side effect of vaccination is very rarely cited in the literature and largely outweighed by the benefits of vaccination. Further research is needed to delineate the exact pathophysiology of this complication and determine whether a causal relationship exists.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognosis of Herpes Zoster Laryngitis With Vocal Fold Immobility

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of herpes zoster laryngitis with vocal fold immobility.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics, laryngeal signs on strobolaryngoscopy, imaging examination findings, and outcomes of patients were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

This study included 17 patients (11 males [64.7%] and six females [35.3%]), with a mean age of 63.3 ± 6.7 years. The primary symptoms were hoarseness (94.1%), dysphagia (76.5%), pharyngalgia on one side (76.5%), and aspiration (70.6%). No patient had skin herpes of the head and neck. The duration of symptoms was 5-30 days (median: 10 days). Twelve patients (70.6%) were in an immunocompromised state before the disease. Strobolaryngoscopy showed congestion and swelling of the mucosa on one side of the larynx, with whitish eruptions on the supraglottic mucosa and ipsilateral vocal fold immobility. Five patients (29.4%) exhibited signs of ipsilateral accessory nerve injury. The imaging examination showed supraglottic inflammatory changes in 12 patients (70.6%). Among the 14 patients whose treatment could be clearly described, only one patient received antiviral treatment, whereas others received neurotrophic and symptomatic treatment. Notably, all patients demonstrated good outcomes because their symptoms eventually returned to normal.

CONCLUSION

Herpes zoster laryngitis is caused by varicella-zoster virus infection of the vagus nerve. It is characterized by laryngeal herpetic changes on one side and unilateral vocal fold immobility. The inducement of the disease tends to be associated with the abnormal immune state of patients. It can be easily misdiagnosed because of the absence of skin herpetic changes. Regardless of antiviral therapy, patients generally exhibit a favorable outcome.

Characteristic Video Laryngeal Endoscopic "Pharyngeal Rotation" in Unilateral Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle Paresis: A Case of Herpes Zoster Pharyngitis

Herpes zoster pharyngitis (HZP) is a rare condition that should be considered as a differential diagnosis of acute dysphagia secondary to unilateral glossopharyngeal and/or vagal nerve palsy. Although early treatment is important to avoid adverse sequelae, serological diagnosis of varicella zoster virus (VZV) takes over a few days. Therefore, it is important to actively suspect VZV infection based on physical findings. Mucocutaneous lesions, curtain signs, and laryngeal palsy are well-known characteristic physical findings. In addition to these findings, the video laryngeal endoscopic finding that the pharyngeal constrictor muscles contract on only one side during swallowing, showing an appearance of "pharyngeal rotation", is one of the characteristic findings of glossopharyngeal/vagal nerve palsy and can support the diagnosis. We report the case of an 82-year-old Asian female who presented with acute dysphagia, sore throat, left ear pain, and fever that persisted for several days. Initial video laryngeal endoscopy revealed a markedly decreased pharyngeal reflex and significant salivary retention without mucosal vesicular lesions. Repeat videoendoscopic evaluation of swallowing revealed characteristic pharyngeal rotation, which was helpful in diagnosing unilateral pharyngeal constrictor muscle paresis, thus suggesting unilateral glossopharyngeal/vagal nerve palsy. An increase in serum antibody titers (IgG and IgM) against VZV was observed. Bilateral differences and rotation of the pharynx during pharyngeal contraction can be detected endoscopically in pharyngeal constrictor muscle paresis caused by glossopharyngeal/vagal nerve palsy and should be evaluated during video laryngeal endoscopy in patients with dysphagia.

Voice Correction Treatment Promotes Recovery of Vocal Cord Paralysis Caused by Atypical Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome: A Case Report

Atypical Ramsay-Hunt syndrome is caused by varicella zoster viruses (VZV), without herpes, herpes is not around the ear, or posterior cranial nerve palsy is the first clinical manifestation. In this case, a 60-year-old male patient with VZV invades the branches of the vagus nerve alone. The initial symptoms were in the pharynx and larynx, which presented as mucosal ulcers and voice disorders. The ear symptoms were only otalgia and auricular herpes, without deafness, tinnitus, or peripheral facial palsy. Herpes and ulcers healed with medication, but voice disorders caused by vocal cord paralysis did not return. Voice correction treatment has been implemented to help restore the movement and closure of the vocal cords, with ultimately good results. After voice correction treatment, the patient recovered without residual nerve palsy complications. Voice correction treatment has been shown to be potentially effective and promising in shortening the recovery period and improving the recovery rate for vocal cord paralysis caused by viral infection.

Impact of COVID-19 on vocal cord mobility: a case series study

Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the pandemic of COVID-19 infection in March 2020, most of cases presented with mild symptoms, and a significant number of cases showed variable neurological pictures. Vocal cord paralysis with no clear cause is termed as idiopathic vocal cord paralysis and supposed to be caused by viral infection. This is a case series study; data were collected prospectively from patients presented to the ENT clinic of Kasr Alainy (Cairo university) and Railway hospitals. Patients presented with defective vocal cord movement with concurrently or recently passed COVID-19 infection were reported from March 2020 to April 2021.

Results

Authors have reported 6 cases of vocal cord paralysis mainly unilateral due to COVID-19 infection as an only clear cause within 14 months. Age ranges from 39 to 69 years, 2 males and 4 females. Patients presented with different clinical scenarios. Follow-up of the cases showed spontaneous recovery in 5 cases and one case underwent cord medialization.

Conclusion

Viral infection could be an underlying cause of idiopathic laryngeal cord paralysis; in the new era of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians all over the world noticed variable neurological pictures; in this study, we presented 6 cases of vocal cord paralysis mainly unilateral supposed to be due to COVID-19 infection; all cases showed spontaneous recovery apart from one case that needed medialization of the cord.

Uncommon presentation and complications of herpes zoster infection involving the cervical, vagus and accessory nerves which caused a delay in diagnosis and treatment

A 70-year-old man with a history of invasive anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with excision and chemoradiation presented to the emergency department with right-sided neck pain and submandibular lymphadenopathy. CT imaging of the head and neck was unrevealing. The patient eventually developed cranial nerves X and XI dysfunction, manifesting as severe vocal cord paralysis (dysphonia), dysphagia, asymmetric palate elevation/deviation and trapezius muscle atrophy, in addition to scalene muscle atrophy. After an extensive workup, the patient's symptoms were determined to be due to sequelae of varicella zoster infection, which was confirmed with antibody titers. The patient's dysphagia and dysphonia eventually improved with vocal cord medialisation injection and Botox injection. However, despite delayed treatment with acyclovir and valacyclovir, the patient continued to have neuropathic pain and exhibit signs of CN X and CN XI paresis, in addition to scalene muscle atrophy.

Imaging manifestations on sequential magnetic resonance imaging in pharyngolaryngeal involvement by varicella zoster virus

Clarifying temporal changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a good chance to understand the pathology of neural lesions; however, such information is scarce in varicella zoster virus (VZV) neuropathies for the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Here, we present the changes in sequential MR images of such a pathology over a period of 12 months from symptom onset.A 27-year-old woman with difficulty in swallowing and hoarseness due to a palatal palsy and arytenoid fixation on the left presented 2 days after onset. MRI revealed a lesion which largely filled the left jugular foramen on T2-weighted images (T2-WI) with high diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signals, which has never been previously described, on the 3rd day after onset. The DWI signals were highest on day 3, then deteriorated over 2 months until the signal was only detectable at the intracranial level, but not in the jugular foramen. The glossopharyngeal nerve had returned to normal by 2 months.The time course of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve swelling detected on T2-WI suggests that nerve swelling reduces over several months, even though the paralytic symptoms persist. Furthermore, the high DWI signal suggests that nerve swelling was caused by edematous swelling of the nerve fibers, rather than fiber disruption with water displacement in the extracellular space. These findings may provide good clues to speculate on the dynamically changing pathology of VZV neuropathies of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves.

Evaluation of the Incidence of Other Cranial Neuropathies in Patients With Postviral Olfactory Loss

Importance

Postviral olfactory loss is a common cause of olfactory impairment, affecting both quality of life as well as overall patient mortality. It is currently unclear why some patients are able to recover fully after a loss while others experience permanent deficit. There is a lack of research on the possible association between postviral olfactory loss and other cranial neuropathies.

Objective

To evaluate the incidence of other cranial nerve deficits in patients with postviral olfactory loss and determine if there is an association with neurologic injury in this group. This study also sought to determine if other known risk factors were associated with postviral olfactory loss.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care rhinology clinic from January 2015 to January 2018 to review the incidence of cranial neuropathies in 2 groups of patients, those with postviral olfactory loss and those with chronic rhinosinusitis without olfactory loss used as a control group.

Exposures

The Stanford Translational Research Integrated Database Environment (STRIDE) system was used for patient identification and data extraction. Patients with a history of olfactory loss or chronic rhinosinusitis as well as incidence of cranial neuropathies were identified by using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes.

Main Outcomes and Measures

This study reviewed incidence of postviral or idiopathic cranial neuropathies in both patient groups, while also evaluating for any difference in demographic characteristics, comorbidities, or other patient-related factors.

Results

There were 91 patients in the postviral olfactory loss group and 100 patients in the control group, which were age and sex matched as closely as possible. Of the 91 patients with postviral olfactory loss, mean (SD) age was 56.8 (15.3), and 58 (64%) were women; for the control group, the mean (SD) age was 57.5 (15.6) years, and 63 (63%) were women. Racial breakdown was similar across cases and controls, with white individuals making up 59% to 65%; Asian individuals, 20% to 24%; black individuals, approximately 3%; Hispanic individuals, approximately 1%; and the remaining patients being of other race/ethnicity. The incidence of other cranial neuropathies in the postviral olfactory loss group was 11% compared with 2% within the control group (odds ratio, 6.1; 95% CI, 1.3-28.4). The study also found 2 cases of multiple cranial neuropathies within a single patient within the olfactory group. Family history of neurologic disease was associated with more than 2-fold greater odds of cranial nerve deficit (odds ratio, 3.05; 95% CI, 0.59-15.68).

Conclusions and Relevance

Postviral olfactory loss appears to be associated with a higher incidence of other cranial neuropathies. It is possible that there is an inherent vulnerability to nerve damage or decreased ability for nerve recovery in patients who experience this disease process.

Vocal Fold Immobility Following Vaccination

OBJECTIVE

Vocal fold immobility (VFI) may severely affect quality of life due to dysphonia and respiratory distress. Many etiologies of this disorder have been evaluated, however the relationship between VFI and vaccination has yet to be explored. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between VFI and vaccine administration.

METHODS

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database was queried for patients exhibiting symptoms of VFI following vaccination. Patient demographics and clinical information including presenting symptoms, time of symptom onset, laterality, outcomes, and adverse events were documented.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were found to have VFI following vaccination. Of those reported, 13 patients were female (59.1%) and 8 were male (36.4%) with an average age of 48.4 years. Vaccinations for influenza, shingles, pneumococcus, and hepatitis B were reported. A majority of these cases were unilateral in nature (73.3%). Mean lag time from vaccination to symptom onset was 6.3 days (range 0-45 days). Five adverse events were reported, with 4 patients requiring intubation and tracheostomy.

CONCLUSION

Vaccine administration may be associated with VFI and physicians should be cognizant of this potential adverse event. This is a rare complication with less reported cases than other post-vaccination cranial neuropathies. The difficulty in establishing an initial diagnosis and need for specialized evaluation by an otolaryngologist may result in under-reporting of such events. Further research is needed to delineate the exact pathophysiology of this complication and determine whether a causal relationship exists.

Cranial polyneuropathy caused by herpes zoster infection: a retrospective single-center analysis

PURPOSE

Cranial polyneuropathy (CP) is a rare complication of herpes zoster (HZ) infection. This entity often produces situations of a diagnostic dilemma, as can be seen in a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. The aim of this study was to report the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of 11 patients from a single-institution experience.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of patients treated for HZ CP over a 12-year period was performed.

RESULTS

The present study included 11 patients with CP caused by HZ infection-7 (63.63%) females, and 4 (36.36%) males. The mean age at presentation was 63 years (range, 38-85 years). Cranial nerve VII was affected in nine (81.82%) cases, CN VIII in six (54.55%) cases, CN V in five (45.45%) cases, CN III and IX in two (18.18%) cases, and CN VI and X in one (9.09%) case. The treatment of choice was acyclovir in all patients, while corticosteroids were administered in six (54.55%) patients. Complete CN recovery was observed in seven (63.63%) patients, while four (36.36%) patients suffered from permanent CN damage-two (18.18%) CN VII, one (9.09%) CN VII and VIII, and one (9.09%) CN VI.

CONCLUSION

Herpes zoster CP presents an interesting diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Successful management of these patients depends on a thorough knowledge of the anatomy and topodiagnostic of CNs. Early administration of antiviral agents is crucial in terms of responsiveness to treatment and expedite recovery.

Association between Upper Respiratory Infection and Idiopathic Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis

INTRODUCTION

Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) without an identifiable cause is termed idiopathic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (IUVFP). Some authors have postulated that select cases of IUVFP have a viral etiology, but the causality has not been established. We set out to review institutional cases of IUVFP and determine if there is a correlation between upper respiratory infection symptoms and presentation of IUVFP.

METHODS

Cases of IUVFP were reviewed over a 10-year period (2002-2012). The history was investigated to review presenting symptoms. We specifically reviewed for symptoms of upper respiratory infection at the onset of UVFP and tallied the frequency. Symptoms included sore throat, laryngitis, cough, influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, otalgia, and sinusitis. The seasonal onset (if possible) was determined based on the history provided from the initial consultation.

STUDY DESIGN

Case series.

RESULTS

Overall, 107 patients presented with IUVFP; 35.5% of patients reported symptoms of upper respiratory infection at the onset of UVFP. Among these individuals, pharyngitis/laryngitis was the most common presenting symptom; 34.2% reported cough. In total, 40.0% of patients with IUVFP reported an onset of symptoms between December and February.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that symptoms of upper respiratory infection frequently occur with the presentation of IUVFP. The onset of symptoms tended to occur between December and February. The mechanism of viral-mediated UVFP has not been established. Future studies to explore this pathophysiology are needed.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome with cranial polyneuropathy with features of supraglottitis

A 67-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of left otalgia and a 1-day history of odynophagia, pain extending into the face and neck, and a productive cough. Flexible nasendoscopy showed features of supraglottitis, with swollen arytenoids and pooling of saliva in the piriform fossae. Laboratory investigations revealed a mildly raised C reactive protein. A CT scan of the neck supported the diagnosis of supraglottitis and pharyngitis, with thickening of the mucosa of the left piriform fossae and left oropharynx. Standard supraglottitis treatment was instigated, but on day 4 of the admission, a vesicular rash and features of cranial nerve involvement (V, VII, VIII, X) developed. A revised diagnosis of Ramsay Hunt syndrome with cranial polyneuropathy was made and later confirmed by varicella zoster virus PCR. After 4 weeks, facial nerve function normalised, but features of other cranial nerve palsies were persistent.

A Supraglottic Pseudotumor in an Immunocompromised Patient with Nephrotic Syndrome, Herpes Zoster, and a Cytomegalovirus Infection

Several viral infections may occasionally induce supraglottic mass lesions, resulting in an obstructive airway emergency. We herein report one such case in a 63-year-old male immunocompromised patient with nephrotic syndrome due to membranous nephropathy who also had ophthalmic herpes zoster with a laryngeal mass, which required urgent intubation and mechanical ventilation. The patient was initially treated with acyclovir; however, because a serological analysis revealed a concurrent cytomegalovirus infection, we discontinued the administration of acyclovir and gave priority to the simultaneous treatment of the cytomegalovirus and varicella-zoster virus infections with ganciclovir. The clinical course was favorable, and he was weaned from the ventilator 10 days later when a serial imaging analysis revealed no signs of the supraglottic mass, leading us to conclude that these two viral infections could have additively or synergistically contributed to the development of the local pseudotumor. The diagnostic and therapeutic concerns arising in the current case are also discussed.

Viral laryngitis: a mimic and a monster - range, presentation, management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to highlight recent literature relating to the diagnosis and treatment of some less common forms of viral laryngitis. The main conditions addressed in this review are chronic cough or postviral vagal neuropathy, varicella zoster infection of the larynx, and a condition increasingly suspected as being virally induced, idiopathic ulcerative laryngitis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Diagnosis of these conditions requires a thorough history and physical exam, and in certain cases referral to other subspecialties such as gastroenterology and pulmonology. Chronic cough due to postviral vagal neuropathy is a diagnosis of exclusion; however, recent literature does suggest that certain studies such as laryngeal electromyography can be of use in reaching a diagnosis. Treatment of this neuropathy has focused on use of neuromodulators. Treatment of laryngeal shingles and idiopathic ulcerative laryngitis has not been well defined because of the rarity of these conditions.

SUMMARY

Recent studies regarding these conditions and potential future treatment options will be discussed.

Herpetic cranial polyneuritis mimicking brain stem infarction-an atypical presentation of Ramsay Hunt syndrome

An elderly man presented with severe right ear pain and discharge, hoarseness and dysphagia causing significant involuntary weight loss. Extensive investigations by varied specialties only highlighted right vocal cord palsy and right parotid lymphadenitis. Reassessment on transfer to a rehabilitation ward noted clinically subtle right Ramsay Hunt syndrome with multiple lower cranial nerve involvement. We illustrate a case of varicella zoster virus cranial polyneuritis with bulbar symptoms mimicking bulbar stroke, requiring percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy feeds, with significant clinical and radiological recovery over 1 year.

Atypical Presentation of a Common Disease: Shingles of the Larynx

OBJECTIVE

Herpes zoster is a neurocutaneous disease resulting from the reactivation of endogenous varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in dorsal sensory or cranial nerve ganglia. Rarely, this infection manifests without the characteristic dermatomal rash, a condition termed zoster sine herpete. Viral spreading of herpes zoster in the head and neck may manifest as various signs and symptoms because of the multiple possible combinations of cranial neuropathies. With only six cases reported in the English literature up to now, isolated neuropathies of the vagus nerve in the absence of cutaneous lesions tend to be misdiagnosed as idiopathic laryngeal paralysis.

METHODS

We report a case of herpes zoster of the larynx in an 80-year-old man presenting with sore throat, dysphagia, and hoarseness.

RESULTS

Endoscopic examination revealed unilateral vocal fold paralysis, pooling of secretions, and mucosal vesicles of the hemilarynx. After the diagnosis of VZV infection with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, the patient was treated with valacyclovir and corticosteroids, leading to complete recovery after 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Herpes zoster of the larynx is an uncommon condition that should be included in the differential diagnosis of laryngeal paralysis of idiopathic cause. We recommend performing a thorough examination of the pharyngolaryngeal structures and ordering PCR testing as the diagnostic method of choice.

A Case of Associated Laryngeal Paralysis Caused by Varicella Zoster Virus without Eruption

We report a patient with significant weakness of the left soft palate, paralysis of the left vocal cord, and left facial nerve palsy. Although the patient showed no herpetic eruption in the pharyngolaryngeal mucosa and auricle skin, reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV) was confirmed by serological examination. She was diagnosed with zoster sine herpete. After treatment with antiviral drugs and corticosteroids, her neurological disorder improved completely. When we encounter a patient with associated laryngeal paralysis, we should consider the possibility of reactivation of VZV even when no typical herpetic eruption is observed.

Two cases of pharyngolaryngeal zoster advanced to multiple cranial neuropathy

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection of the head and neck region may present with various symptoms. I present two cases of VZV infection of the pharynx and larynx with multiple cranial nerve neuropathies. Their initial symptoms such as sore throat, odynophagia, and dysphasia were complicated by otalgia, dizziness, hearing loss, or ipsilateral facial nerve paralysis. All of these lesions tended to lateralize to the ipsilateral side and endoscopic findings suggested VZV infections, which were confirmed by serial serologic examinations.

Where is reactivation after a long latency?

The authors present a 90-year-old woman with unilateral glossopharyngeal, vagal and spinal accessory cranial nerve palsy along with pharyngeal and laryngeal vesicular eruptions. She was diagnosed with herpes zoster based on PCR testing on vesicular fluid for varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Reactivation of VZV in the head and neck region can cause life-threatening neurologic sequelae. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of herpes zoster in a case of unilateral multiple cranial neuropathies and rapid combination therapy with acyclovir and corticosteroid should be initiated.

Varicella zoster virus infection of the pharynx and larynx with multiple cranial neuropathies

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection of the head and neck region may present with various clinical symptoms, involving different entities and different routes of viral spreading. We present a case of VZV infection of the pharynx and larynx with multiple cranial nerve (CN) neuropathies (CN VII, VIII, IX, and X) of a 52-year-old woman who complained of the sudden onset of hoarseness, odynophagia, dysphagia, and hearing loss in the left ear, followed by left-side facial weakness lasting for 1 week. Endoscopic examination revealed multiple mucosal erosions over the oropharynx, with extension upward to the nasopharynx and downward to the mucosa overlying the epiglottis, arytenoid, and vocal cord. All of these lesions tended to lateralize to the left side, suggesting a VZV infection diagnosis; this was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction on eruptional exudates, as well as serologic examination.

Immunological responses against human papilloma virus and human papilloma virus induced laryngeal cancer

Objective:

This study aimed to clarify the local immune status in the larynx in the presence of infection or carcinogenesis associated with human papilloma virus.

Methods:

Cytological samples (for human papilloma virus detection) and laryngeal secretions (for immunoglobulin assessment) were obtained from 31 patients with laryngeal disease, during microscopic laryngeal surgery. On histological examination, 12 patients had squamous cell carcinoma, four had laryngeal papilloma and 15 had other benign laryngeal disease. Cytological samples were tested for human papilloma virus DNA using the Hybrid Capture 2 assay.

Results:

High risk human papilloma virus DNA was detected in 25 per cent of patients (three of 12) with laryngeal cancer. Low risk human papilloma virus DNA was detected only in three laryngeal papilloma patients. The mean laryngeal secretion concentrations of immunoglobulins M, G and A and secretory immunoglobulin A in human papilloma virus DNA positive patients were more than twice those in human papilloma virus DNA negative patients. A statistically significant difference was observed between the secretory immunoglobulin A concentrations in the two groups. Patients with laryngeal cancer had higher laryngeal secretion concentrations of each immunoglobulin type, compared with patients with benign laryngeal disease. The study assessed the mean laryngeal secretion concentrations of each immunoglobulin type in the 12 laryngeal cancer patients, comparing human papilloma virus DNA positive patients (n = 3) and human papilloma virus DNA negative patients (n = 9); the mean concentrations of immunoglobulins M, G and A and secretory immunoglobulin A tended to be greater in human papilloma virus DNA positive cancer patients, compared with human papilloma virus DNA negative cancer patients.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the local laryngeal immune response is activated by infection or carcinogenesis due to human papilloma virus. The findings strongly suggest that secretory IgA has inhibitory activity against infection or carcinogenesis associated with human papilloma virus in the larynx.

Postviral Vagal Neuropathy

Objectives:

Postviral vagal neuropathy (PVVN) is a clinical diagnosis characterized by laryngeal complaints initiated by an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). Little is known about the natural history of this disease, and only small case series have been reported. We describe the clinical presentation, symptoms, patient demographics, and natural history of PVVN.

Methods:

A cross-sectional survey of all patients with a diagnosis of PVVN from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006, was prospectively administered, detailing disease onset, type and duration of symptoms, demographics, and previous treatment. The Reflux Symptom Index, Voice Handicap Index, and laryngoscopic findings were collected for each patient.

Results:

Forty-four patients with PVVN were identified. The mean age (±SD) was 48 ± 13 years, and 73% of the patients were female. The most common initial URI symptoms were cough (89%), nasal congestion (75%), and rhinorrhea (64%). Fifty-nine percent of the patients took antibiotics, and the mean time between symptom onset and presentation to the laryngologist was 83 ± 127 weeks. The most common persistent symptoms were cough (52%), throat clearing (48%), dysphonia (41.5%), and vocal fatigue (43%). Fifty-seven percent of the patients consulted 3 or more physicians for their symptoms. The mean Voice Handicap Index was 13.4 ± 10.3, and the mean Reflux Symptom Index was 17.7 ± 11. Fortynine percent of the patients had evidence of vocal fold paresis on strobovideolaryngoscopy.

Conclusions:

PVVN is a clinical entity characterized by a complex of laryngeal symptoms that begin after a URI. The symptoms include chronic cough, excessive throat clearing, dysphonia, and vocal fatigue. Affected individuals are typically in their fifth decade of life and appear more likely to be women. Most patients have seen multiple physicians, and the time to laryngologist referral is often delayed.