Medialization thyroplasty for unilateral vocal cord paralysis secondary to advanced extralaryngeal malignant disease: review of operative morbidity and patient life expectancy.

OBJECTIVE

To review the operative morbidity and the overall length of survival following medialization thyroplasty for unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) due to advanced extralaryngeal malignancy.

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Tertiary care laryngology practice.

METHOD: All cases of medialization thyroplasty over a 3-year period were reviewed. Only patients who had UVCP due to advanced extralaryngeal malignancy were included. Any cases from iatrogenic causes or for any other reason were excluded. Survival days were calculated from the date of the thyroplasty.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Survival days postmedialization thyroplasty.

RESULTS

Twenty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. Two distinct groups within this cohort were identified: (1) those suffering from advanced lung cancer and (2) those with metastatic cancer of another origin (ie, breast, renal cell, esophageal). There were 11 patients in the lung cancer group and 10 in the other group. Average survival was 538 days in the lung cancer group and 668 days in the other group. The procedure was well tolerated, with only one postoperative complication, which was a minor wound infection.

CONCLUSION

For patients suffering from advanced malignancy, medialization thyroplasty is a safe procedure and an excellent modality for voice palliation.