Isolated Vagus Nerve Involvement of Herpes Infection with Delayed Vocal Fold Paralysis

Kwon, Tack-Kyun

J Korean Soc Laryngol Phoniatr Logop > Volume 16(1); 2005 > Article

Journal of The Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics 2005;16(1): 81-84.

지연성 성대 마비를 동반한 미주신경에 국한된 Herpes 감염

권택균

서울대학교 의과대학 이비인후과학교실, 분당서울대병원

Isolated Vagus Nerve Involvement of Herpes Infection with Delayed Vocal Fold Paralysis

Tack-Kyun Kwon

Department of Otolaryngology, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital

ABSTRACT

Vagus nerve palsy caused by herpes virus infection is rare. Here, the author presents a 65-year-old woman with acute onset of right side otalgia and sore throat, followed by delayed vocal fold paralysis on the same side. Vesicles were also found on the posterior wall of ear canal but the tympanic membrane was not involved. Laryngoscopy revealed multiple ulcerative lesions on the pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa exclusively on the right side. One month later, she noticed dyshonia which turned out right vocal fold paralysis. Skull base to upper chest CT did not reveal local lesion. Three months after finishing the acyclovir, her symptoms were almost gone and vocal fold movement has almost completely improved. Vagus nerve involvement of herpes infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis for patients with herpes zoster oticus with sore throat.

KEY WORDS： Vagus nerve;Herpes zoster oticus;Vocal fold paralysis;