What is the differential diagnosis for hoarseness?

January 5, 2021 5:08 am Published by

Infection

  • Acute or chronic laryngitis
  • Laryngotracheobronchitis (croup)

Inflammatory

  • Gastroesophageal reflux laryngitis
  • Vocal cord polyps or nodules
  • Lifestyle (smoking, chronic alcohol use)

Trauma

  • External laryngeal trauma

Neoplasia

  • Benign tumor
  • Papillomas
  • Malignant tumor
  • Squamous cell carcinoma

Systemic

  • Endocrine disorders
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Connective tissue disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Systemic lupus erythematous

Neurologic 

  • Central lesions (cerebrovascular accident*, head injury, multiple sclerosis, skull base tumors*)
  • Peripheral lesions (lung malignancy*, iatrogenic injury)
  • Neuromuscular (myasthenia gravis)

Lung malignancy is the most common cause of vocal cord paralysis

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This post was written by Omar Rifai