Bifid epiglottis.
Bifid epiglottis is a rare congenital defect that is often associated with other congenital annomalies. The most common defect associated with a bifid epiglottis are anomalies of the hands and/or feet (90%) while the most dangerous and potentially lethal anomaly if not recognized and treated are hypothalamic hamartomas and hypopituitarism (50%). A bifid epiglottis will often result in severe respiratory distress secondary to laxity of the cartilage and chronic aspirations, which may require surgical intervention. We present the case of a 10-week-old child who was sent for evaluation of stridor and aspiration. Office laryngoscopy demonstrated a true bifid epiglottis and further evaluation demonstrated a hypothalamic hamartoma consistent with Pallister-Hall syndrome. Management of our case as well as those previously presented in the literature are reviewed.
Stroh
B
B
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota and Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis 55455, USA.
Rimell
F L
FL
Mendelson
N
N
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000150:complications; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D017689:Polydactyly / Q000150:complications; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome