Vocal Fold Paralysis Following Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Laryngeal Electromyography Findings

Delayed lower cranial neuropathy after oropharyngeal intensity‐modulated radiotherapy: A cohort analysis and literature review

“…Subjects included 97.1% (2694/2775) with NPC, 2.3% (63/2775) with oropharyngeal cancer, 0.2% (5/2775) with hypopharyngeal cancer, 0.1% (5/2775) with laryngeal cancer, 0.1% (3/2775) with oral cavity cancer, and 0.2% (5/2775) with other sites of head and neck cancer. Radiation delivery varied among the patients examined in this literature review, with the majority of patients receiving a total dose around 70 Gy, often with a parapharyngeal boost, and chemoradiotherapy . Incidence rates of radiation‐associated LCNP were reported in 9 retrospective cohorts comprising 2565 patients with NPC and 12 patients with non‐NPC sites of head and neck cancer.…”

“…The upper limit was reported at 34 years, and the lower limit at 1 year . Case reports and case series examining radiation‐associated LCNP are summarized in Supporting Information Tables S1 and S2 . Incidence reports from cohort studies and latency data are summarized in Table and Supporting Information Tables S1 and S2, respectively.…”

Voice of Postradiotherapy Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: Evidence of Vocal Tract Effect

“…3 These findings indicate that voice is affected by either a structural change of the vocal tract or a radiation effect as shown in voices after laryngeal irradiation 4,5 or both. In recent years, more advanced technology in radiotherapy has greatly improved the accuracy in confining irradiation to a tumor site and thus minimizing the radiation effect on its surrounding areas.…”

Laryngeal electromyography findings of vocal fold immobility in patients after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

“…Nevertheless, all of the cranial nerves are potentially at risk of injury during radiotherapy. In the literature, the reported incidence after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) ranges from 0.3% to 9% . A cohort study of 1032 Taiwanese patients with NPC showed that 1% of them developed CNP after receiving radiotherapy .…”

“…It can also provide information about the site of the nerve lesion and prognosis in patients with vocal fold paralysis . However, to date, only Lau et al reported LEMG findings on patients ( n = 3) who presented with VFI after radiotherapy for NPC.…”