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Left brachiocephalic vein stenosis and infectious aortitis: two unusual causes of Ortner’s syndrome
open access
Abstract
Ortner’s syndrome (also known as cardiovocal syndrome) is defined as hoarseness due to compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by an enlarged left atrium or enlarged thoracic vessels. We describe two cases of Ortner’s syndrome with an unusual underlying vascular pathology. In the first patient, Ortner’s syndrome was a consequence of left brachiocephalic vein stenosis resulting in collateral circulation filling the aorto-pulmonary window. The second patient developed a thoracic aortic aneurysm due infectious aortitis. Both patients required careful scrutiny in differential diagnosis because of their complex past medical history and concomitant diseases.
Abstract
Ortner’s syndrome (also known as cardiovocal syndrome) is defined as hoarseness due to compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by an enlarged left atrium or enlarged thoracic vessels. We describe two cases of Ortner’s syndrome with an unusual underlying vascular pathology. In the first patient, Ortner’s syndrome was a consequence of left brachiocephalic vein stenosis resulting in collateral circulation filling the aorto-pulmonary window. The second patient developed a thoracic aortic aneurysm due infectious aortitis. Both patients required careful scrutiny in differential diagnosis because of their complex past medical history and concomitant diseases.
Keywords
hoarseness, vocal cord paresis, left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, Ortner’s syndrome, cardiovocal syndrome


Title
Left brachiocephalic vein stenosis and infectious aortitis: two unusual causes of Ortner’s syndrome
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
457-461
DOI
10.5603/PiAP.2015.0075
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2015;83(6):457-461.
Keywords
hoarseness
vocal cord paresis
left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
Ortner’s syndrome
cardiovocal syndrome
Authors
Marta Maskey-Warzęchowska
Marta Dąbrowska
Rafał Krenke
Anna Domeracka-Kołodziej
Małgorzata Żukowska
Ryszarda Chazan