title: Radiofrequency ablation of pediatric vallecular cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric congenital vallecular cysts are an infrequent cause of infantile airway obstruction that can cause difficulty breathing or feeding, and lead to failure to thrive or death. There have been many different techniques proposed for effective treatment. We present three cases of congenital vallecular cyst, all excised utilizing a bipolar radiofrequency plasma ablation (RFA) device. The bipolar RFA device provides excellent hemostasis without the risk of airway fire. We offer a review of literature and a discussion of the potential advantages of this modality in treating neonatal/infantile vallecular cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series of three infants all between 2 and 3 months old who presented with failure to thrive due to partially obstructive vallecular cysts. The cysts were removed surgically utilizing a bipolar RFA device. Patients were followed by complications and signs of recurrence for periods ranging from 9 to 20months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cysts were excised completely in a single operation. All children are feeding well and without stridor or evidence of recurrence between 9 and 20 months postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA appears to be an effective and safe modality for removing vallecular cysts. We were able to demonstrate complete removal of lesions in our patients. This provides an alternative to other ablative modalities in treating cystic lesions of the vallecula and larynx.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Montefiore Medical Center, 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, Medical Arts Pavilion, Room 3rd Floor, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonik
authors.forename: Lee P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003560:Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004825:Epiglottis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome