title: Breath-holding-like spells in an infant: an unusual presentation of lingual thyroglossal duct cyst.
abstract: The authors report the case of an infant with a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst who presented with breath-holding-like spells, which actually represented life-threatening ball-valve obstruction of the larynx, leading to hypoxemia and transient cerebral dysfunction. When evaluating apparent breath-holding spells in young infants, physicians should include dynamic, episodic upper airway obstruction in the differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, USA.
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Weldon
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Krafcik
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D001049:Apnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D013955:Thyroglossal Cyst / Q000150:complications* / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis