Role of CT Imaging in Patients with Lung Cancer Revealed by Recurrent Nerve Paralysis

Nineteen patients with lung cancer detected by the development of recurrent nerve paralysis were reviewed on the basis of conventional radiography, tomography and CT. Left recurrent nerve paralysis was caused by AP window masses in 14 of the 19 patients and by preaortic lesions in 3. In one patient, left recurrent nerve paralysis was caused by an aortic aneurysm. Right recurrent nerve paralysis was caused by a paratracheal mass in only one patient. In 10 patients, the paralysis was caused by direct invasion of the primary lung tumor into the nerve, in 8 patients by metastases to the mediastinal lymph nodes, and in one patient by an aortic aneurysm. CT was superior to conventional radiography and tomography in the detection of mediastinal lesions responsible for causing the paralysis. Therefore, CT can play an important role in the assessment of patients with recurrent nerve paralysis.