Congenital laryngeal atresia associated with partial diaphragmatic obliteration.
OBJECTIVE
Laryngeal atresia is a rare, life-threatening congenital malformation. Prenatal sonographic diagnosis has been described; however, in many cases, the precise diagnosis is established only at autopsy. Our aim was to describe an atypical prenatal presentation of congenital laryngeal atresia in which the final diagnosis was made only at autopsy.


METHODS
Sonographic and postmortem examinations were performed on a fetus with bilateral enlarged echogenic lung fields, an everted diaphragm, and polyhydramnios, which were initially noted on prenatal sonography at 26 weeks' gestation.


RESULTS
Unfortunately, the mother was lost to follow up at our inner-city clinic, thus precluding a definitive diagnosis. At birth, tracheostomy was not performed because of the anomalous appearance of the neonate and the suspicion of multiple congenital anomalies. Neonatal death occurred after 18 minutes of life. Autopsy revealed laryngeal atresia with a right hemidiaphragmatic defect and multiple other congenital anomalies.


CONCLUSIONS
This was a rare case with prenatal sonographic findings in a fetus with congenital laryngeal atresia associated with partial diaphragmatic obliteration.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY 10016, USA. vminior@pol.net
Victoria K
VK
Minior
Jean-Pierre
JP
Gagner
Kristen
K
Landi
Courtney
C
Stephenson
M Alba
MA
Greco
Ana
A
Monteagudo
D000328:Adult; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000196:embryology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal