title: The trumpet player with a swelling in the neck.
abstract: Bilateral neck swelling in patients following valsalva manouveres could lead to a diagnosis of either a pharyngocele or laryngocele. Distinguishing between them can be complicated but is vital given the possibility for an acute airway in patients with laryngoceles. A 20-year-old trumpet player presents with a 5-year history of neck swelling. Clinical suspicion is that of a pharyngocele but imaging introduces some confusion with the diagnosis. Both pharyngoceles and laryngoceles can occur as a result of prolonged positive pressure. Accurate assessment with fibreoptic examination and imaging is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Pharyngoceles are often misdiagnosed as laryngoceles. Though treatment is similar between the two patient groups it is vital that a distinction is made to enable careful observation of the airway in patients with laryngoceles.
authors: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Edmiston
authors: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: Ahmad
authors: A
authors: Hariri
authors: Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, UK.
authors: Yakubu
authors: Y
authors: Karagama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D059608:Laryngocele / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D007830:Larynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed