title: Type I laryngeal cleft: late presentation.
abstract: Laryngeal cleft anomalies are rare congenital defects of the posterior laryngotracheal wall that usually present with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections during the early neonatal period. Presentation of type I clefts can be subtle and subsequently can result in late diagnosis or indeed failure to present. We report on the case of a type I laryngeal cleft presenting with a history of recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, at 19 years of age. This is the oldest documented initial presentation of a congenital laryngeal cleft, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a suspicion of the diagnosis into early adulthood. We further highlight the role of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in the presentation of laryngeal clefts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Mater Miseriacordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. monathornton@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Conlon
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation