Lesions affecting the following nerves can result in paralysis affecting one or both of the vocal cords:
(1) the left vagus nerve
(2) the right vagus nerve
(3) the left superior or recurrent laryngeal nerves
(4) the right superior or recurrent laryngeal nerves
Lesions affecting the left or right vagus nerves:
(1) tumor at the base of the skull
(2) peripheral neuritis
(3) bulbar paralysis
(4) trauma to the upper neck
(5) metastatic carcinoma
(6) a tumor of the vagus nerve
(7) basal meningitis
(8) surgery to the upper neck
Lesions affecting the left superior or recurrent laryngeal nerves:
(1) lung carcinoma, especially if bronchogenic
(2) esophageal carcinoma in the upper or mid esophagus
(3) thyroid carcinoma
(4) surgery to the left neck, lung or heart
(5) enlargement of the left heart
(6) mediastinal tumors
(7) aortic aneurysm
(8) peripheral neuritis
(9) trauma to the left neck or chest
Lesions affecting the right superior or recurrent laryngeal nerves:
(1) thyroid carcinoma
(2) esophageal carcinoma
(3) lung cancer involving the right lung apex
(4) aneurysm of the right subclavian artery
(5) trauma to the right neck
(6) surgery to the right neck
(7) peripheral neuritis
