Tuberc Respir Dis.  2002 Mar;52(3):265-270.

A Case of Vocal Cord Dysfunction Masqueraded as Exercised-Induced Asthma

• Jo CL
• Sym SJ
• Park SH
• Nam SY
• Koh YS

Abstract

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is respiratory disorder characterized by paradoxical closure of the vocal cord during the respiratory cycle leading to obstructive airway symptoms. The clinical presentation of VCD is often dr amatic and its misdiagnosis as asthma of exercise-induced brochospasm(EIB) has led to inappropriate treatment including high dose corticosteroids, intubation, and tracheostomy. Many VCD patients are asympromatic at rest and require exercise challenge to elicit symptoms and vocal cord abnormalities. The "gold standard" for the diagnosis of VCD remains laryngoscopy of bronchoscopy with direct visualization of paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords. We report a case of exercise-induced Vocal cord masqueraded as exercise-induced asthma unresponsive to corticosteroids. And bronchodilator confirmed by typical bronchoscopic findings with paradoxial adduction of the vocal cords.

Keyword

Vocal cord dysfunction; Exercise-induced asthma

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Asthma*
Asthma, Exercise-Induced
Bronchoscopy
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Errors
Humans
Intubation
Laryngoscopy
Tracheostomy
Vocal Cord Dysfunction*
Vocal Cords*
Adrenal Cortex Hormones