Acute airway obstruction from a laryngeal lymphangioma in a child.
Lymphangiomas present commonly in the head and neck region with over 90% of lesions diagnosed before 2 years of age. These lesions have rarely been reported as a cause of acute upper airway obstruction and to date, there are very few reports in the literature documenting the presence of lymphangiomas in the larynx. We present the case of a previously asymptomatic 13-year-old girl with Joubert's syndrome, who presented with acute airway obstruction while undergoing extubation for a routine dental procedure. Near-complete obstruction of her supraglottis from a lymphangioma necessitated tracheotomy to secure the airway. The diagnostic work-up and management of this patient and her post-operative course are discussed. This case illustrates the insidious presentation of a laryngeal lymphangioma and emphasizes the management options for such patients.
Sobol
S E
SE
Department of Otolaryngology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3H 1P3, Canada.
Manoukian
J J
JJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008202:Lymphangioma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology