Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T14:37:27.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Congenital vallecular cyst in an infant: case report and review of 52 recent cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 June 2011

J Suzuki ,
S Hashimoto ,
K Watanabe  and
K Takahashi
J Suzuki*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
S Hashimoto
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, National Sendai Medical Center, Sendai, Japan
K Watanabe
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, National Sendai Medical Center, Sendai, Japan
K Takahashi
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Jun Suzuki, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan Fax: +81 22 717 7307 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives:

Vallecular cyst is uncommon in infants. We treated a female infant with vallecular cyst, and curious magnetic resonance imaging findings. We also review 51 other cases of vallecular cyst in infants reported over the past 23 years.

Case report:

A three-month-old female infant presented with congenital inspiratory stridor and failure to thrive. Flexible laryngoscopy and ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass in the vallecula. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were initially curious because of artefacts from breathing and swallowing. Marsupialisation of the cyst was performed. Post-operatively, the patient was immediately free of symptoms.

Conclusion:

Magnetic resonance imaging presents various difficulties in infants, but has the best diagnostic effectiveness. We recommend the use of magnetic resonance imaging, flexible fibroscopy and ultrasonography to enable extensive examination of suspected vallecular cysts in infants. Marsupialisation has a recurrence rate of only one in 39 cases, and its safety and effectiveness are well balanced. Thus, prompt marsupialisation of vallecular cyst is the recommended surgical procedure.

Keywords

Vallecular CystCystOropharynxInfantRadiologyDiagnosisSurgical Procedures, Operative
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 125 , Issue 11 , November 2011 , pp. 1199 - 1203
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Abercrombie, J. Congenital cyst in larynx. Trans Pathol Soc London 1881;32:33–4Google Scholar
2De, Santo LW, Devine, KD, Weiland, LH. Cysts of the larynx – classification. Laryngoscope 1970;80:145–76Google Scholar
3Mitchell, DB, Irwin, BC, Bailey, CM, Evans, JN. Cysts of the infant larynx. J Laryngol Otol 1987;101:833–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Gluckman, PG, Chu, TW, van Hasselt, CA. Neonatal vallecular cysts and failure to thrive. J Laryngol Otol 1992;106:448–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Hsieh, WS, Yang, PH, Wong, KS, Li, HY, Wang, EC, Yeh, TF. Vallecular cyst: an uncommon cause of stridor in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr 2000;159:79–81CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Lewison, MM, Lim, DT. Apnea in the supine position as an alerting symptom of a tumor at the base of the tongue in small infants. J Pediatr 1965;60:1092–3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Wong, KS, Li, HY, Huang, TS. Vallecular cyst synchronous with laryngomalacia: presentation of two cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995;113:621–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Gutierrez, JP, Berkowitz, RG, Robertson, CF. Vallecular cysts in newborns and young infants. Pediatr Pulmonol 1999;27:282–53.0.CO;2-G>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Myer, CM. Vallecular cyst in the newborn. Ear Nose Throat J 1988;67:122–4Google ScholarPubMed
10LaBagnara, J Jr. Cysts of base of the tongue in infants: an unusual cause of neonatal airway obstruction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1989;101:108–11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Wang, CR, Lim, KE. Vallecular cysts: report of two cases. Pediatr Radiol 1995;25:218–19CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Oluwole, M. Congenital vallecular cyst: a cause of failure to thrive. Br J Clin Pract 1996;50:170Google ScholarPubMed
13Ku, AS. Vallecular cyst: report of four cases – one with co-existing laryngomalacia. J Laryngol Otol 2000;114:224–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Tuncer, Ü, Aydogan, LB, Soylu, L. Vallecular cyst: a cause of failure to thrive in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2002;65:133–5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Chow, PY, Ng, DK, Poon, G, Hui, Y. Vallecular cyst in a neonate. Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:464Google ScholarPubMed
16Tibesar, RJ, Thompson, DM. Apnea spells in an infant with vallecular cyst. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2003;112:821–4CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17Yao, TC, Chiu, CY, Wu, KC, Wu, LJ, Huang, JL. Failure to thrive caused by the coexistence of vallecular cyst, laryngomalacia and gastroesophageal reflux in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2004;68:1459–64CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18Ahrens, B, Lammert, I, Schmitt, M, Wahn, U, Paul, K, Niggemann, B. Life-threatening vallecular cyst in a 3-month-old infant: case report and literature review. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2004;43:287–90CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19Yang, MA, Kang, MJ, Hong, J, Shin, SH, Kim, SD, Kim, EK et al. A case of congenital vallecular cyst associated with gastroesophageal reflux presenting with stridor, feeding cyanosis, and failure to thrive. Korean J Pediatr 2008;51:775–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Mahajan, V, Mathew, JL, Singh, M, Gupta, R, Das, A. Vallecular cyst revisited. Indian J Pediatr 2008;75:1081–2CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21Grasso, DL, Marchetti, F, Norbedo, S, Furlan, C, Schleef, J, Zocconi, E. Endoscopic treatment of vallecular cyst in newborn. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol Extra 2009;4:10–13Google Scholar
22Breysem, L, Goosens, V, Vander Poorten, V, Vanhole, C, Proesmans, M, Smet, M. Vallecular cyst as a cause of congenital stridor: report of five patients. Pediatr Radiol 2009;39:828–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Sands, NB, Anand, SM, Manoukian, JJ. Series of congenital vallecular cysts: a rare yet potentially fatal cause of upper airway obstruction and failure to thrive in the newborn. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2009;38:6–10Google ScholarPubMed
24Birch, DA. Laryngeal stridor in infants and children: a study of 200 cases. J Laryngol Otol 1961;75:833–40CrossRefGoogle Scholar
25Holinger, LD. Etiology of stridor in the neonate, infant and child. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1980;89:397–400CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Fu, J, Xue, X, Chen, L, Fan, G, Pan, L, Mao, J. Lingual thyroglossal duct cyst in newborns: previously misdiagnosed as laryngomalacia. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2008;72:327–32CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27Lev, S, Lev, MH. Imaging of cystic lesions. Radiol Clin North Am 2000;38:1013–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Weber, PC, Kenna, MA, Casselbrant, ML. Laryngeal cysts: a cause of neonatal airway obstruction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1993;109:129–34CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Pak, MW, Woo, JK, van Hasselt, CA. Congenital laryngeal cysts: current approach to management. J Laryngol Otol 1996;110:854–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed