Paralysis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Paralysis, including details on treatment, diagnosis, facial paralysis, sleep paralysis.

A case report of myasthenia gravis localized to the larynx.

Kanemaru S, Fukushima H, Kojima H, Kaneko K, Yamashita M, Ito J

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54, Kawahara-Cho, Syogoin Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. kanemaru@ent.kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp

This report describes a very rare case of myasthenia gravis (MG) localized to the larynx, with the onset of dyspnea requiring tracheotomy. The vocal cords of this patient were fixed in the paramedian position. Under fiberscopic observation, improvement of laryngeal function was demonstrated after intravenous injection of edrophonium. However, no voice change occurred. The posterior crico-arytenoid muscle has the sole responsibility of abducting the vocal cord; thus, it is concluded that the dyspnea was caused by the selective paralysis of this muscle. We suggest that MG should be considered in cases of vocal cord paralysis of unknown etiology.

Published 4 June 2007 in Auris Nasus Larynx, 34(3): 401-3.
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