Palliative Radiotherapy Improved Hoarseness Caused by Supraclavicular Lymph Node Metastasis of Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Introduction

Hoarseness due to malignancy-induced recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy can substantially impair patients’ quality of life (QoL). Radiotherapy is used for the palliative treatment of symptoms from various malignant tumors; however, few studies have evaluated its efficacy for hoarseness. Case Presentation: An 84-year-old man with right lower lobe lung cancer underwent right S6 segmentectomy followed by chemotherapy, which was discontinued as the result of adverse effects and the patient’s preference. Approximately one year later, he developed hoarseness secondary to RLN palsy, owing to the progression of right supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. Palliative radiotherapy (30 Gy in 10 fractions) was administered three weeks after the onset of symptoms. The lesion subsequently shrank, and four months post-radiotherapy, the hoarseness was resolved.