Use of videography in the diagnosis of exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction: a case report with video clips.

摘要

Allergists and pulmonologists frequently encounter patients with exercise-induced asthma (EIA). The majority of these patients are successfully treated without the time or expense of a formal exercise challenge test. However, a subset of these patients will not respond to usual therapy and may therefore create a diagnostic challenge.One of the conditions that may mimic EIA is vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). VCD is defined as a paradoxical adduction of the true vocal cords primarily during inspiration. This leads to varied clinical presentations including acute wheezing, stridor, dyspnea, throat or chest tightness, and cough. Although VCD was first described in the 19th century and has been associated with hysteria and psychiatric conditions, Christopher et al1 were the first to present a series of patients treated for severe asthma who were documented to have VCD instead.