Vocal Cord Dysfunction
Basics
Description
- Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD): a breathing disorder in which vocal cords adduct inappropriately. This occurs primarily on inspiration and produces airflow obstruction that may result in dyspnea, wheezing, and stridor.
- Synonym(s): paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM)
Epidemiology
Incidence
Not well defined
Prevalence
- Unknown; likely uncommon in the general population
- Most frequently diagnosed in patients evaluated for asthma and exercise-induced dyspnea
- Female predominance, 2:1 (1)
- 71% of patients are adults and 29% of patients <18 years of age; also, has been diagnosed in young children/infants (1)
- Suspect occurrence in approximately 3% of intercollegiate athletes with exercise-induced asthma (2).
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Exact etiology is unclear—both organic and nonorganic causes have been identified.
- Possible laryngeal hyperresponsiveness to irritants, such as smoke, dust, postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), URI, or other irritants (3)
- Noncompetitive and competitive exercises—unknown mechanism (4)
- Psychological factors such as anxiety, severe social stresses (e.g., competitive sports), history of sexual abuse (2)
Genetics
None defined
Risk Factors
See “Commonly Associated Conditions.”
Commonly Associated Conditions
- Asthma
- GERD
- Rhinosinusitis
- Psychological conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and panic disorder
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Vocal Cord Dysfunction." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688731/all/Vocal_Cord_Dysfunction.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688731/all/Vocal_Cord_Dysfunction. Accessed December 3, 2024.
Vocal Cord Dysfunction. (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688731/all/Vocal_Cord_Dysfunction
Vocal Cord Dysfunction [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 December 03]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688731/all/Vocal_Cord_Dysfunction.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Vocal Cord Dysfunction
ID - 1688731
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688731/all/Vocal_Cord_Dysfunction
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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