ABSTRACT
Unilateral vocal cord paralysis [UVCP] is a major cause of dysphonia and can be diagnosed during laryngoscopic examination. UVCP is secondary to several causes. Idiopathic left recurrent laryngeal nerve [RLN] paralysis is a relative common clinical entity. In certain cases, a mediastinal cause can be identified. When a patient presents with vocal cord palsy, physicians should never overlook a cardiovascular cause that will help to diagnose the paralysis. Immediate treatment should be administered. This case report presents an interesting and rare cause of hoarseness due to a giant pleuropericardial cyst in an elderly person. We highlight this case due to the rarity of a giant pleuropericardial cyst affecting the left RLN
ABSTRACT
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours are rare softtissue tumours consisting of a spindle-cell malignancy arising from a peripheral nerve. Most of these tumours arise on the extremities and are rare in the head and neck region. A 33-year-old woman patient was referred to our hospital with progressive nasal obstruction and discharge occasionally mixed with blood since 1 year. Anterior rhinoscopy revealed a polypoid mass completely occupying the right nasal cavity, with a grossly left-deviating nasal septum. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses revealed an expansile soft-tissue mass filling the right nasal cavity, which extended to the right maxillary sinus with an erosion of the right lamina papyracea and an extension to the right orbit. Biopsy revealed the mass to be a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical tests. The tumour was removed under general anaesthesia by nasal endoscopy and right medial maxillectomy. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on day-6 after. She was given chemotherapy and is under regular follow-ups, with no recurrence of the disease since 2 years