Left Vocal Cord Paralysis in Idiopathic Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis: A Case Report

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare interstitial lung disease that is characterized by predominant upper lobe fibrosis and pleural thickening. In this report, we present an unusual case of idiopathic PPFE with left vocal cord paralysis that developed repeated aspiration pneumonia. Vocal cord paralysis is a rare complication of PPFE, and two mechanisms can be proposed: 1) Fibrous adhesion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve to the chest wall can cause stretching of the nerve. 2) Traction or compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve due to the distortion of the tracheobronchial tree can cause paralysis of the vocal cord. Finally, to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia, laryngoscopic evaluation of the vocal cord is recommended in patients with PPFE with hoarseness and dysphagia for early intervention.