Laryngeal cysts: a report of three cases with varying presentations

Year 2003, Volume: 10 Issue: 5, 199 - 202, 18.10.2003

Sudhakiran Kalavagunta

Abstract

Cysts in the larynx are not uncommon and assume importance due to their potential to compromise the airway. A series of three cases of laryngeal cysts is presented. Voice, swallowing, and breathing are the prime functions served by the upper aerodigestive tract, and the three cases presented here illustrate how each of these functions can be interfered with by the development of laryngeal cysts. Despite the presence of overlapping symptoms, there were only subtle symptoms at the onset such as globus sensation case 1 , worsening asthma case 2 , and vocal fatigue case 3 . This case series highlights the importance of understanding these subtle symp­ toms and the need for a thorough search for these benign but offending laryngeal cysts.

Keywords

Airway obstruction/etiology, cysts/classification/complications/surgery, laryngeal diseases/classification/complications/surgery

Klinik sunumları farklı üç olguda larenks kistleri

Abstract

Larenks kistleri sık görülürler ve hava yolunu tehlike- ye sokabilme özellikle yönünden önem taflırlar. Ko- nuflma, yutma ve solunum, üst aerodigestif sistem tarafından sağlanan temel fonksiyonlardandır. Bu yazıda, larenks kisti saptanan üç farklı olguda bu fonksiyonların ayrı ayrı nasıl etkilendiği sunuldu; bu olgularda çakıflan bulgular da vardı. Bafllangıç su- numları olarak tüm olgularda yanıltıcı bulgulara rast- landı; boğazda yabancı cisim duyusu olgu 1 , ağır- laflan astım tablosu olgu 2 ve seste güç kaybı ol- gu 3 . Sunulan olgular aracılığıyla, bafllangıç semp- tomlarının yanıltıcı nitelikleri vurgulandı; özellikleri açısından benign olan, ancak etkileri nedeniyle tanı ve tedavide sorunlara yol açabilen larenks kistlerine karflı daha uyanık olunması gerektiği gösterildi

Keywords

Havayolu tıkanıklığı/etyloji, kist/sınıflandırma/komplikasyon/cerrahi, larenjeal hastalıklar/sınıflandırma/komplikasyon/cerrahi

References

• Lee WS, Tsai CS, Lin CH, Lee CC, Hsu HT. Airway obstruction caused by a congenital epiglottic cyst. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2000;53:229-33.
• G u t i e r rez JP, Berkowitz RG, Robertson CF. Va l l e c u l a r cysts in newborns and young infants. Pediatr Pulmonol 1 9 9 9 ; 2 7 : 2 8 2 - 5 .
• Fang TJ, Cheng KS, Li HY. A huge epiglottic cyst caus- ing airway obstruction in an adult. Chang Gung Med J 2002;25:275-8.
• Lam HC, Abdullah VJ, Soo G. Epiglottic cyst. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;122:311 .
• Dada MA. Laryngeal cyst and sudden death. Med Sci Law 1995;35:72-4.
• Arens C, Glanz H, Kleinsasser O. Clinical and mor- phological aspects of laryngeal cysts. Eur Arc h Otorhinolaryngol 1997;254:430-6.
• DeSanto LW, Devine KD, Weiland LH. Cysts of the lar- ynx-classification. Laryngoscope 1970;80:145-76.
• Newman BH, Taxy JB, Laker HI. Laryngeal cysts in adults: a clinicopathologic study of 20 cases. Am J Clin Pathol 1984;81:715-20.
• Rameswar K, Albizzati C. Laryngeal cysts: clinical rel- evance of a modified working classification. J Laryngol Otol 1988;102:923-5.
• Mason DG, Wark KJ. Unexpected difficult intubation. Asymptomatic epiglottic cysts as a cause of upper air- way obstruction during anaesthesia. Anaesthesia 1987;42:407-10.
• Sato N, Nakazawa T, Nakasuji I, Shingu K. Fiberoptic tracheal intubation aided by jaw lifting in a patient with an epiglottic cyst. Masui 2002;51:910-2. [Abstract]
• Bohme G. Ultrasound diagnosis of the epiglottis. HNO 1990;38:355-60. [Abstract]
• Casselman J, Oyen R, Baert A, Jorissen M. Computed tomography of infected epiglottic cyst. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1986;10:694-5.
• Wijayaweera ND, Ganepala SR. Epiglottic cyst aspira- tion before induction of anaesthesia. Ceylon Med J 1993;38:137-8.