Congenital crico-thyroid dysplasia: a comprehensive description.

INTRODUCTION: We describe a first case of human congenital crico-thyroid dysplasia associated to a right sided aortic arch and an aberrant subclavian artery. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient presented with a two-weeks history of acute dyspnea, and reported hoarseness since his childhood. An urgent tracheotomy was performed, followed by direct laryngoscopy. Endoscopic examination showed a deviation of the dorsoventral axis of the larynx, with an obstructive submucosal swelling the area of the right false cord and aryepiglottic fold. Computed tomography conducted the following day confirmed the crico-thyroid dysplasia, an infected laryngocele, and the presence of a right sided aortic arch and an aberrant subclavian artery. CONCLUSION: The embryological basis of these anomalies is attributed to congenital defects of the development of the fourth and sixth pharyngeal arches. To our knowledge, the congenital crico-thyroid dysplasia has not been previously reported in human. This case underscores the importance of recognizing anatomical variations in laryngeal cartilages, understanding their embryological origins, and potential associated malformations.

[A clinical case of successful treatment of an air cyst of the larynx]. / Klinicheskii sluchai uspeshnogo lecheniya vozdushnoi kisty gortani.

Laryngeal air cyst (laryngocele) is a rare disease that is an abnormal cystic expansion of the deep structures of the laryngeal ventricle. They can be accompanied by serious complaints, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing during exercise, as well as at rest with large cysts. Computed tomography is the most effective method for determining the type, localization and degree of laryngocele. Although surgical treatment is considered the method of choice in cases of laryngeal air cyst, the approach significantly depends on the size of the lesion.

Thyroid chondroplastic flap for resection of laryngoceles.

PURPOSE: Large and combined laryngoceles usually need an external approach. One difficulty in such approach was the dissection at the paraglottic space. To overcome such difficulty, a thyroid chondroplastic flap approach to the paraglottic space was designed. METHODS: This study is a case series of thirty consecutive patients (24 men and six women with an average age of 45.6 years), having large combined laryngocele resected externally between January 1995 and December 2019) at the department of ORL_HNS Tanta University, Egypt. RESULTS: This approach allowed for excellent exposure of the paraglottic space, facilitating complete resection. Complications included perichondrial tearing in five patients, obstructing hematoma in two patient and minimal edema in four patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid chondroplastic flap is an excellent and safe approach for the paraglottic space facilitating complete resection of large laryngoceles.

Laryngopyocele: A deep neck infection diagnosed by emergency ultrasound.

Laryngopyocele is a rare diagnosis that can cause life-threating conditions such as airway obstruction and even death. Emergency ultrasound (POCUS) can be very helpful during the diagnosis and monitoring of the illness because it is both easy to apply and repeatable. A deep neck infection was diagnosed as laryngopyocele by POCUS in the emergency department; this is the first case in the literature.

Laryngeal oncocytic cystadenomas masquerading as laryngoceles.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an experience with laryngeal oncocytic cystadenomas and review the published literature regarding this uncommon diagnosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A clinical review of patients presenting with cystic laryngeal masses in an urban academic medical center between January and December 2013 was performed. Three patients, two female and one male, with a mean age of 68 years, were diagnosed with oncocytic cystadenomata of the larynx. Major presenting symptoms included dysphonia, globus, and ipsilateral otalgia. Endoscopic examinations revealed a cystic structure arising from varied subsites of the larynx: laryngeal ventricle, aryepiglottic fold, and pre-epiglottic space. Cross-sectional radiographic imaging was obtained in each case. The patients were treated with transoral (CO2) laser microsurgery (TLM). In all three cases, pathological analysis revealed oncocytic cystadenoma with clear margins. CONCLUSIONS: Oncocytic cystadenoma is a rare entity of the larynx predominantly affecting elderly patients. Clinical presentation and imaging may suggest the diagnosis of an internal laryngocele. Complete excision is both diagnostic and therapeutic, and typically can be achieved using TLM. When clear margins are obtained, no adjuvant therapy is indicated. Although laryngoceles and malignancies are more commonly encountered, oncocytic cystadenomas should remain in the differential of cystic laryngeal masses.

Management of laryngoceles by transoral robotic surgery.

We herein report our experience with the management of laryngoceles using transoral robotic surgery (TORS). A bicentric retrospective study was conducted from November 2009 to September 2015. The inclusion criteria were treatment of a laryngocele by TORS and no malignancy on definitive histopathology. Surgery was performed using the Da Vinci (Intuitive®) surgical robot. Surgical methods and post-operative outcomes were evaluated. Eight patients (four men and four women) presenting with a laryngocele (one bilateral case) were included (mean age 61.8 years). There was one covering tracheotomy. The average post-operative stay was 3.75 days. Three patients treated for a combined laryngocele had a nasogastric feeding tube inserted for 5 days. One patient experienced late laryngeal bleeding that required surgical treatment. TORS may offer an efficient treatment option for laryngoceles. The use of precise and flexible instruments and a three-dimensional camera allow fine dissection of these tumours, preserving the glottic space and vocal function, even for combined laryngoceles extending deep within the neck.Evidence level: 4.

Management of Laryngoceles by Transoral Robotic Approach.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngoceles are air-filled sacs which communicate with the laryngeal lumen. When filled with mucus or pus, they are called laryngomucoceles and laryngopyoceles, respectively. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is a new and remarkable technique that expands its usefullness in otorhinolaryngology. Conventional treatments for laryngoceles were previously performed using external approaches, with aesthetically unfavorable and less function-sparing results. Transoral laser microsurgical approaches for laryngoceles were seldom reported. It is aimed to present authors' clinical experience on laryngocele management with TORS which is a rather new technique. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective patient serial. METHODS: Patients were evaluated for demographic data, type of lesion, reasons for hospital admittance, complaint duration, and previous surgery. Robotic surgery panel including anesthesia time, duration of surgery, need for tracheotomy, postoperative care, follow-up, and recurrence rates were also summarized. RESULTS: Six men (mean age 51.7 years; range 41-62) with laryngoceles underwent successful TORS. Dyspnea and hoarseness were the main complaints. Two patients had undergone previous laryngeal surgery due to laryngeal cancer, with no recurrence of malignancy at admittance for laryngocele. Three had simple laryngocele, 2 had laryngomucocele, and 1 had laryngopyocele. No laryngoceles recurred and no complication such as dysphonia or prolonged dysphagia occurred. CONCLUSION: Transoral robotic surgery was found superior in safety, technical feasibility and curative effectiveness, when compared with classical methods, especially due to absence of skin incisions. Surgical modalities for laryngocele excision should be directed toward a curative target including cosmetic and functional success, technical achievability, and surgically curative methods. Transoral robotic surgery provided all these features.

Supra-thyroid alar cartilage approach for the complete resection of laryngeal submucosal tumors and postoperative voice quality.

Various surgical approaches for the treatment of laryngeal submucosal tumors have been reported. Endoscopic excision is indicated for small lesions, while external approaches are recommended for larger tumors. This report introduces a supra-thyroid alar cartilage approach (STACA), which has strong advantages for the preservation of the laryngeal framework and voice recovery after surgery. Case series with chart review. Four patients with laryngeal submucosal tumors in the paraglottic space underwent complete tumor removal through STACA. Medical charts were reviewed to evaluate patient background, major complaints, tumor type, tumor size, the time period from operation to tracheostomy closure, tumor recurrence, and the difference between pre- and postoperative voice quality. Voice quality was assessed using the GRBAS score, maximum phonation time (MPT) and Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) 6 months after surgery. All patients were females between 43 and 67 years of age. Two patients had schwannoma, one laryngocele, and one lipoma. Mean tumor size was 3.4 cm. The main complaints were hoarseness in all patients, and dyspnea in one. The periods of time from surgery to oral intake and tracheostomy closure were 3.5 and 7 days, respectively. No patient developed recurrence during a minimum follow-up period of 2 years. The postoperative GRBAS scores, MPT and VHI-10 improved in all patients. STACA has advantages including minimal trauma, no deformity to the laryngeal framework, and good voice qualities after the resection of laryngeal submucosal tumors.

Congenital laryngomucocele: a rare cause of airway obstruction in a newborn.

Congenital laryngoceles are defined as cystic dilatation of laryngeal saccules and are an extremely rare cause of newborn respiratory distress. A laryngomucocele occurs when the neck of the laryngocele gets obstructed and fills with the mucoid secretions of the saccule. It may cause stridor, respiratory distress, and severe airway obstruction in the narrow airway of a newborn and necessitates urgent surgical intervention. There is only 1 case of congenital laryngomucocele reported in an autopsy examination in the English literature, and here we report the first living congenital laryngomucocele case and discuss the clinical approach.

A new preserved technique for laryngocele: modified lateral thyrotomy approach.

Laryngocele is a benign abnormal dilatation of the laryngeal saccule. We present a 30-year-old male patient who complained with hoarseness since 1 year. Paraglottic laryngocele is detected on medical examination. The patient is operated on successfully with our new thyroid cartilage preserved technique (modified lateral thyrotomy method).

Intraoperative inflation of laryngocele with LMA.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngoceles are pathologic air filled dilations of the laryngeal ventricle. They are most often benign and incidental findings. Resection may be necessary in the setting of infection, airway obstruction, dysphagia, and phonatory disturbances. External laryngoceles are almost universally treated with open resection via a lateral or midline cervical approach. Care must be taken to resect the laryngocele in its entirety to avoid recurrence. In cases of recurrent infection, normal surgical planes are often fibrosed and obscured increasing the risk of neurovascular sacrifice and functional losses. METHODS: We are reporting a case of recurrent infections in a large, palpable external laryngocele. During resection the patient was ventilated using an endotracheal tube (ETT). Additionally, a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was inserted posterior to the ETT, resting in the hypopharynx and attached to a Jackson Rees circuit. Air was passed through the LMA to inflate the laryngocele and better define its borders. The LMA was also used to identify the root of the laryngocele in the paraglottic space and ensure its airtight closure. RESULTS: The LMA assisted our dissection and helped progress the surgery safely in a fibrosed surgical field. We have not seen this method described previously. The patient continues to be free of recurrence 2 years after surgery. CONCLUSION: While in most cases, with careful surgical technique, even a fibrotic and scarred laryngocele can be excised in its entirety without neurovascular sacrifice. In some cases where this may be difficult with a traditional approach, we offer the intra-operative trumpet maneuver as a viable method of better delineating the borders of a laryngocele.

[Clinical features and management analysis of 11 cases of laryngocele].

Objective: To summarize clinical features and our experience of the diagnosis and treatment of laryngocele. Methods: Clinical data of 11 laryngocele patients in department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2012 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, including 9 men and 2 women, aged from 12 to 75 years, with median age of 56 years. Electronic laryngoscope was performed in 10 of all patients, laryngeal CT in 10 and cervical color ultrasound in 5 before operation.All the operations were performed under general anesthesia, and the external cervical approach was used for external and combined laryngocele. The internal laryngocele was resected by low temperature plasma through transoral endoscopy. Patients were followed up regularly after operation to evaluate the effect. Clinical feature, types of lesions, imaging findings, surgical approaches and follow-up results were analyzed through descriptive statistical method. Results: Eleven laryngocele patients were divided into mixed type (n=6), internal type (n=4) and external type (n=1).Nine patients presented with hoarseness or dysphonia, 7 with cervical mass and 1 with airway obstruction. Surgical resections were done through external cervical approach (n=7)or transoral endoscopic approach (n=4). All the operations were successful and no complication occurred. All cases were followed up from 17 to 110 months. No recurrence was encountered. Conclusions: Laryngocele is a rare lesion with atypical clinical presentation. Preoperative imaging including CT scan and electronic laryngoscope is essential to evaluate the location, and extent of the lesion, and to make the surgical plan.Complete surgical excision is required. Surgical resection is the only effective method for the treatment of laryngocele.

Endoscopic CO2 Laser Resection Using the Inversion Technique in 22 Combined Laryngoceles.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of transoral resection of, even large, combined laryngoceles by endoscopic CO2 laser resection using the inversion technique. METHODS: A retrospective study over a 25-year period of 20 patients with 22 combined laryngoceles. All patients were operated on using the CO2 laser inversion technique. Pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT)-scans or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were available in all patients. RESULTS: There were no surgical problems during all procedures. One patient required a tracheotomy pre-operatively due to a compromised airway. All procedures were without intraoperative complications. Postoperatively, there were two complications: one hemorrhage, and one patient developed a granuloma with airway compromise. In two patients, residual disease was detected on postoperative imaging. One of them was re-operated several years later due to the progression of this residual external component of the laryngocele. One patient had a non-significant small internal laryngocele recurrence. The recurrence rate in this series was 2/22 (9.1%). The majority of patients (15/20) could be discharged from the hospital the day after surgery. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show excellent control of combined laryngoceles using the CO2 laser inversion technique, with a short hospital stay and a low rate of complications and recurrence. Even in large combined laryngoceles, CO2 laser excision using the inversion technique should be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:2742-2746, 2023.

Chondrosarcoma of the Thyroid Cartilage Successfully Treated With Partial Resection of the Thyroid Cartilage.

Chondrosarcoma of the thyroid cartilage is a sporadic disease with nonspecific clinical presentation. Smooth swelling of the supraglottic area should arouse suspicion of possible pathology. In addition to laryngoceles, which usually do not have a significant impact, otolaryngologists should consider chondrosarcoma of the thyroid cartilage and indicate computed tomography (CT). Late diagnosis leads to worse prognosis, particularly worse voice after more extensive surgery, need for tracheostomy, and worse survival from higher degree chondrosarcomas.

The laryngeal saccule: clinical significance.

The association between the laryngeal saccule and a laryngocele is an important clinical relationship. Here, we describe this and other clinical correlations of the saccule including infection and carcinoma and suggest that these should be discussed in medical gross anatomy courses. We also briefly present some descriptive information on the anatomy and function of the saccule in humans and other higher primates.