Vagus nerve palsy: clinical features

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Vagus nerve palsy: clinical features. Dysphonia: this manifests as a hoarse, nasal voice. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

Clinical features

  • Dysphonia: this manifests as a hoarse, nasal voice
  • The soft palate droops ipsilaterally: it does not rise with phonation
  • The uvula deviates to the normal side on phonation
  • There is loss of the gag reflex ipsilaterally
  • There is a curtain movement of the lateral pharyngeal wall
  • There is a midway vocal cord ipsilaterally (cadaveric position): it is between adduction and abduction
  • It may present with sensory neuropathic cough: see below
  • It may present with VANCOUVER syndrome: see below

Sensory neuropathic cough

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VANCOUVER syndrome

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Synonyms

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Acronym

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References

  1. Ropper AH, Brown RH. Principles of Neurology Eighth edition. McGraw Hill New York 2005 p1186.
  2. Brazis PW, Masdeu JC, Biller J. Localization in Clinical Neurology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2007 Philadelphia p330.
  3. Gillig PM, Sanders RD. Cranial Nerves IX, X, XI, and XII. Psychiatry (Edgmont) 2010; 7:37-41.
  4. Lee JK, Mintz S. Chronic cough as a sign of laryngeal sensory neuropathy: diagnosis and treatment. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2006; 115:871.
  5. Norris BK, Schweinfurth JM. Management of recurrent laryngeal sensory neuropathic symptoms. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2010; 119:188-191.
  6. And 4 more. Subscribe to see the full list

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