Mm. Johns et Nd. Hogikyan, Simultaneous vocal fold and tongue paresis secondary to Epstein-Barr virusinfection, ARCH OTOLAR, 126(12), 2000, pp. 1491-1494
Dysphonia is a common presenting symptom in cases referred for otolaryngolo
gic evaluation. Similarly, primary care physicians frequently see adolescen
ts or young adults with symptomatic Epstein-Barr virus infection. Some of t
he patients with active Epstein-Barr virus infection who have severe clinic
al manifestations of infectious mononucleosis will be referred for otolaryn
gologic evaluation. Voice abnormalities in these patients, though, are usua
lly limited to altered resonance due to pharyngeal crowding by hyperplastic
lymphoid tissue. We describe a patient with infectious mononucleosis who w
as referred for evaluation of dysphonia and was diagnosed with unilateral t
ongue and vocal fold paresis. We also discuss the patient's clinical course
and review the related literature. Although uncommon, cranial nerve palsie
s must be considered in the patient with Epstein-Barr virus infection who p
resents with voice or speech disturbance.