Ortner's syndrome

ABSTRACT

Inferior laryngeal nerve palsy is a relatively common entity. Nevertheless, an occurrence as a result of a cardiovascular pathology is rare. In this case, it is called Ortner's syndrome (OS). Aortic diseases are responsible for more than half of cases. Supraaortic vessels disorders are rare causes of OS. In our new report, a non-smoker and non-drinker 70-year-old woman presented with a history of dysphonia since childhood. On direct laryngoscopy, a left vocal cord paralysis was detected and a contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed an aberrant right subclavian artery originating from the left portion of the aortic arch. Its course to its usual site runs behind the esophagus, being also called arteria lusoria. In this particular case, two unusual situations appear together, which contributes to the rarity of the event.(AU)