Chronic voice hoarseness: when is it an emergency?

Eur J Emerg Med. 2007 Dec;14(6):360-2. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e3280bef945.

Abstract

We report a 68-year-old man with chronic voice hoarseness, who presented to the emergency room with left-sided chest and hypochondrial pain. Chest radiograph showed a large mediastinal mass confirmed to be a thoracic aortic aneurysm by an emergent computed tomography scan. Examination and investigations of a patient with voice hoarseness and chest pain should focus on looking out for dissecting or leaking aneurysms, which may be catastrophic if missed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aorta, Abdominal / pathology*
  • Aorta, Thoracic / pathology*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / diagnosis*
  • Aortic Aneurysm / physiopathology
  • Chest Pain
  • Chronic Disease
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Hoarseness / diagnosis*
  • Hoarseness / etiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Syndrome
  • Vocal Cord Paralysis / diagnosis*
  • Vocal Cord Paralysis / physiopathology