Clinical aspects of type 1 posterior laryngeal clefts: literature review and a report of 31 patients.
OBJECTIVE
The clinical relevance of posterior laryngeal clefts (PLCs) of type 1 has only recently been highlighted in the medical literature. We present a review of the literature and a report of a contributive series of 31 type 1 PLC patients.


METHODS
We performed a MEDLINE search of studies published between 1966 and September 2005 and a retrospective cohort study in children aged 0 to 16 years.


RESULTS
In the reviewed articles as well as in the presented study, a high degree of comorbidity in patients with PLC type 1 is reported. The majority of patients (90%) with severe problems with oral feedings were treated conservatively by means of nasogastric tube feeding.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased awareness improves the chances of an accurate diagnosis of type 1 PLC in patients with congenital stridor. Type 1 PLC may be present in all patients with congenital stridor and laryngomalacia, particularly when stridor is accompanied by symptoms such as feeding difficulties and choking.
van der Doef
Hubert P
HP
Departments of Pediatric Pulmonology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Yntema
Jan Bart
JB
van den Hoogen
Frank J
FJ
Marres
Henri A
HA
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology