A puzzling cause for bilateral vocal cord palsies in a patient with relapsed metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis (VCP) is a frequent complication of a variety of cancers. It is easy to diagnose and not fatal. Bilateral VCP is rare and it is fatal if not appropriately managed. We encountered a patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who developed bilateral VCP with hoarseness and respiratory distress 2 years after initial diagnosis. A tracheostomy was performed to restore airway patency.