Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41611628›Full record

ReviewThe Journal of laryngology and otology2026

Bilateral vocal fold immobility following head and neck radiotherapy: an institutional review.

Jared C Dublin, Elliot Morse, Younes Attlassy, Yaerin Song, Taylor G Lackey, Milan R Amin

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in The Journal of laryngology and otology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Jared C DublinDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicinehttps://ror.org/0190ak572, New York, NY, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7690-0062
Elliot MorseDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicinehttps://ror.org/0190ak572, New York, NY, USA.
Younes AttlassyDepartment of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centerhttps://ror.org/005dvqh91, New York, NY, USA.
Yaerin SongDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicinehttps://ror.org/0190ak572, New York, NY, USA.
Taylor G LackeyAustin Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, Pediatric and Adult Carehttps://ror.org/0190ak572, Austin, TX, USA.
Milan R AminDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicinehttps://ror.org/0190ak572, New York, NY, USA.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Hongbiao Carl Lekaye · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesBilateral vocal fold immobility is a rare, often delayed complication of head and neck radiotherapy that is not well described in the literature. This study aimed to characterise its timing and clinical course.

methodsPatients from 2016 to 2024 with prior head and neck radiotherapy, a diagnosis of bilateral vocal fold immobility and no residual disease were reviewed. Data included demographics, tumour site, radiotherapy type/dose, chemotherapy, interval to bilateral vocal fold immobility, airway intervention, nutrition route and mobility recovery.

resultsTwelve patients (10 male, 2 female; median age 65.8 years) were identified. Glottic (4, 33.3 per cent) and nasopharyngeal (3, 25 per cent) tumours were the most common. Most (11, 91.7 per cent) received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (median dose 68 Gy); eight had chemoradiation. Median time to bilateral vocal fold immobility was 7.5 years. Seven required tracheostomy (two decannulated); eight needed percutaneous gastric tubes. No patients recovered mobility.

conclusionBilateral vocal fold immobility following radiotherapy is rare, delayed, often irreversible, and frequently requires tracheostomy and enteral nutrition.

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsRadiation InjuriesVocal Cord ParalysisAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRadiotherapy, Intensity-ModulatedRetrospective StudiesTracheostomyVocal CordsDeglutition DisordersRadiation InjuriesTracheostomyVocal Cord Paralysis

Identifiers

PMID41611628
PMCPMC13443436

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-SA
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.