Blunt Trauma to the Neck Presenting as Dysphonia and Dysphagia in a Healthy Young Woman; A Rare Case of Traumatic Laryngocele

Bilateral Combined Laryngocele: Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Laryngocele, an abnormal dilation of the appendix of the laryngeal ventricle filled with air, is a rare condition predominantly presenting unilaterally. However, bilateral occurrences are exceedingly rare. In this article, we present a case of bilateral laryngocele along with a comprehensive literature review. A 57-year-old male presented with dyspnea, stridor, and bilateral neck masses. His medical history included chronic cough and intermittent hoarseness. Over a 3 month period, the neck masses progressively enlarged, resulting in respiratory distress. Interestingly, he denied experiencing weight loss, decreased appetite, or fever. Clinical examination revealed sizable, soft masses on both sides of the neck, obstructing lymph node assessment. Computed tomography (CT) imaging confirmed the presence of a left combined laryngopyocele and a right combined laryngocele. Subsequently, the patient underwent tracheostomy. Benign biopsy results excluded malignancy. Surgical excision of bilateral laryngoceles resulted in an uneventful recovery. The term "laryngocele" was introduced by Virchow in 1867 to describe the abnormal dilation of the saccule associated with Morgagni's ventricle. Diagnosis involves a thorough patient history, physical examination, and radiological imaging, notably CT, to differentiate laryngoceles from other conditions. Typically asymptomatic, they are often incidentally discovered around age 50, although symptoms such as voice changes or breathing difficulties can manifest. A review of the literature identified 77 documented cases, primarily in males, exhibiting various symptoms and treatment modalities. This case underscores the rarity of bilateral combined laryngocele, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis and surgical intervention for favorable outcomes. Comprehensive research reveals diverse clinical aspects, highlighting the necessity for continued investigation to enhance management strategies.

Laryngocele: Report of two rare cases and review of the literature

Laryngocele is a rare clinical condition characterized by an abnormal dilation of the laryngeal saccule. The present study focused on two separate cases of diagnosed patients. The first patient suffered from internal laryngocele and complained of hoarseness for almost 1 year. Plasma was used to treat the internal laryngocele and the outcomes were satisfying. The patient did not undergo any tracheostomy due to previous endoscopic surgery. The second patient included in the present study was diagnosed with mixed laryngocele and complained of swelling on the left side of the upper aspect of the neck with considerable pain for >1 month. The patient was prepped for excision by an external transcervical technique under general anesthesia. None of the two patients had any recurrence or other changes during follow-up. The purpose of reporting these two cases of laryngocele was to increase awareness of this condition. Surgery is still the first-line treatment for diagnosed cases, but with the advent of new microscopic techniques, the use of plasma in an inter-pharynx setting has become more common. The results observed after using plasma to treat one internal laryngocele may be relevant to better understanding the application of this method and confirm that it may be a new suitable approach to treat this condition.

A silent laryngeal trauma case: an unexpected late fracture of the superior portion of the thyroid cartilage superior horn

Attempts to analyze clinical unexpected cases of laryngeal fractures based on mild symptoms and physical findings. Even though a laryngeal fracture is rare in a living patient and when happens it is related to severe airways emergency, this case reported seems important to offer a possible differential diagnosis in patients who present with the same symptoms, if no other causes have been detected, like another one benign laryngeal disease.

Left mixed laryngocele in absence of risk factors: A case report and review of literature

Laryngocele is an uncommon benign cystic dilatation of the laryngeal saccule that communicates with the laryngeal lumen and contains air. On the basis of its localization, it can be traditionally classified in internal, external, or mixed. Usually unilateral and rarely bilateral, it may be congenital or acquired. It most often appears later in life without important symptoms except for cervical swelling. Here, together with a review of literature, we report the case of a 72-year-old man, smoker but without other specific risk factors, who presented laryngeal dyspnea for about one year. Neck CT scan performed during a previous hospitalization for respiratory failure revealed a left mixed laryngocele that was later surgically removed with cervicotomic access. The patient was discharged after one week. One month after surgery, we confirmed the absence of disease with video laryngoscopy.

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Laryngocele is a rare benign cystic dilatation of laryngeal saccule.

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Conditions increasing intraluminal laryngeal pressure are the main risk factors.

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The diagnosis of laryngocele is essentially clinic, based on symptoms.

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In some cases it can present with acute respiratory failure as pulmonary pathology.

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Treatment is surgical excision, microlaryngoscopic, external or combined.