Bilateral internal laryngoceles mimicking asthma

Laryngocele is an air-filled, abnormal dilation of the laryngeal saccule that extends upward within the false vocal fold, in communication with the laryngeal lumen. A case of 43-year-old male with bilateral internal laryngoceles, who has been treated as asthma for 4 years, is presented. The patient...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elif A Aksoy, Çagdas Elsürer, Gediz M Serin, Ö Faruk Ünal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jmsjournal.net/article.asp?issn=1735-1995;year=2013;volume=18;issue=5;spage=453;epage=456;aulast=Aksoy
Description
Summary:Laryngocele is an air-filled, abnormal dilation of the laryngeal saccule that extends upward within the false vocal fold, in communication with the laryngeal lumen. A case of 43-year-old male with bilateral internal laryngoceles, who has been treated as asthma for 4 years, is presented. The patient had dyspnea, cough, and excessive phlegm for a month and a late onset stridor. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy showed bilateral cystic enlargements of the false vocal folds and true vocal folds could not be visualized. Laryngeal CT without contrast enhancement showed bilateral internal laryngoceles. Submucosal total excision of bilateral cystic masses including parts of false vocal folds was performed. The symptoms resolved immediately after surgery. Although the incidence of internal laryngocele is rare, it should be remembered in the differential diagnosis of upper airway problems and diagnostic flexible nasopharnygolaryngoscopy is routinely indicated for airway evaluation in at-risk patients.
ISSN:1735-1995
1735-7136