Vocal Fold Paralysis is a Common Complication in Esophageal Cancer Patients with Esophagorespiratory Fistula.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The development of an esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) in patients with esophageal cancer (EC) is associated with poor prognosis. We observed a high rate of vocal fold paralysis (VFP) in patients with ERF. Data on prevalence and complications of VFP in ERF are lacking. The present study investigated the incidence of VFP in patients with malignant ERF and examined possible risk factors and the impact on survival.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study of 46 institutional cases of EC patients with ERF in a time period of eleven years. Patients were matched to 92 randomly selected controls (EC patients without ERF) in a 1:2 fashion for tumor localization and histology. Demographics, clinical characteristics, recurrence, treatment modalities as well as survival were analyzed.

RESULTS

Esophageal cancer patients with ERF developed more often VFP than EC patients without ERF (59% vs. 21%; p=0.02; odds ratio (OR) 4.9). Esophageal cancer patients with ERF had a more pronounced weight loss (7.1 vs. 11.5 kg; P = 0.008), as well as higher rates of esophageal (p=<0.001; OR 22.9) and tracheal stenting (p=<0.001; OR 76.8). Proximal tumor growth (p=0.004; OR 7.9), fistula formation to the trachea (p=<0.001; OR 17.2) and recurrent disease (p=0.04, OR 4.7) was associated with VFP development in EC patients with ERF. Vocal fold paralysis in ERF did not adversely affect five-year survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Vocal fold paralysis is a common complication in more than half of the patients with ERF in EC. It is associated with proximal tumor growth, fistula formation to the trachea and disease recurrence, but does not influence survival.