PATIENTA 12-year-old male with a two-week history of in creasing voice changes was seen to be in slight respiratory distress. Indirect laryngoscopy revealed the presence of a large cystic mass of the left su praglottic larynx. The vocal cords were not visible.
RADIOGRAPHSLateral and frontal xeroradiographs (Fig. l A , B) without contrast media demonstrated a 4 χ 3 cm rounded mass on the left side of the larynx extend ing into the midline. Significant distortion of the anatomy is present, particularly on the left side, with compression of the ventricles. The mass ap peared to have a fluid density.
DIAGNOSISAt the time of surgery a tracheotomy was first performed under local anesthesia. The laryngeal cyst was then removed by way of a submucosal re section through an external cervical approach. The cyst did not communicate with the laryngeal lumen and on pathological examination was found to be lined with ciliated respiratory columnar epithe lium.
DISCUSSIONCystic lesions of the larynx filled with mucus that are non-air-containing and do not communicate with the laryngeal lumen are described as being sac cular cysts.' They are to be differentiated from laryngoceles which do communicate with the lu men of the larynx and are filled with air. Saccular Fig. 1.
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