Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2008.51.7.775

A case of congenital vallecular cyst associated with gastroesophageal reflux presenting with stridor, feeding cyanosis, and failure to thrive  

Yang, Mi Ae (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kang, Min Jae (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Hong, Jeana (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Shin, Seung Han (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kim, Sang Duk (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kim, Ee-Kyung (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kim, Han-Suk (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Choi, Jung-Hwan (Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kwon, Tack Kyun (Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Kim, In-One (Department of Radiology, Seoul National University, College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics / v.51, no.7, 2008 , pp. 775-779 More about this Journal
Abstract
Vallecular cyst is an uncommon but potentially dangerous condition causing stridor and has been associated with sudden airway obstruction resulting in death due to its anatomical location in neonates. It may also present with various degrees of feeding problems resulting in failure to thrive. When a vallecular cyst is suspected clinically, endoscopic laryngoscopy is necessary to visualize it. Other conditions leading to neonatal stridor such as laryngomalacia and other laryngotracheal abnormalities should be ruled out. Marsupialization with a $CO_2$ laser is the most effective and safest treatment to prevent recurrence. We report a case of a 1-month-old male infant with a vallecular cyst synchronous with gastroesophageal reflux, and failure to thrive. He was referred to our hospital because of hoarseness, inspiratory stridor, feeding-cyanosis, chest retraction and failure to thrive. Diagnostic workup revealed a cyst at the tongue base, suggesting a vallecular cyst. The cyst was removed by laryngomicrosurgery with $CO_2$ laser. After the surgery, the symptoms improved and the body weight increased steadily. We report a successfully treated case of neonatal vallecular cyst with symptoms of upper respiratory obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux, and failure to thrive.
Keywords
Vallecular cyst; Gastroesophageal reflux; Failure to thrive; Feeding cyanosis; Inspiratory stridor; Marsupialization;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 1  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Wong KS, Li HY, Huang TS. Vallecular cyst synchronous with laryngomalacia: presentation of two cases. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1995;113:621-4   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Hsieh WS, Yang PH, Wong KS, Li HY, Wang EC, Yeh TF. Vallecular cyst: an uncommon cause of stridor in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr 2000;159:79-81   DOI
3 Oluwole M. Congenital vallecular cyst: a cause of failure to thrive. Br J Clin Pract 1996;50:170
4 Harari MD, Clezy JK, Sharp E. Glossal cyst in four infants. Arch Dis Child 1987;62:1173-4   DOI
5 Newman BH, Taxy JB, Laker HI. Laryngeal cysts in adults: A clinicopathologic study of 20 cases. Am J Clin Pathol 1984;81:715-20   DOI
6 Birgit A, Ingeborg L, Markus S, Ulrich W, Karl P, Bodo N. Life-threatening vallecular cyst in a 3-month-old infant: case report and literature review. Clin Pediatr 2004;43:287-90   DOI
7 Wood RE. Spelunking in the pediatric airways: exploration with the flexible bronchoscope. Pediatr Clin North Am 1984; 31:785-99   DOI
8 LaBagnara J. Cysts of the base of the tongue in infants: an unusual cause of neonatal airway obstruction. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1989;101:108-11   DOI
9 Maddern BR, Werkhaven J, McBride T. Lingual thyroid in a young infant presenting as airway obstruction: report of a case. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1988;16:77-82   DOI   ScienceOn
10 Holinger LD. Etiology of stridor in the neonate, infant and child. Ann Otol Rhiol Laryngol 1980;89:397-400   DOI
11 Santiago W, Rybak LP, Bass RM. Thyroglossal duct cyst of the tongue. J Otolaryngol 1985;14:261-4
12 Tuncer U, Aydogan LB, Soylu L. Vallecular cyst: a cause of failure to thrive in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2002;65:133-5   DOI   ScienceOn
13 DeSanto LW, Devine KD, Weiland LH. Cysts of the larynx classification. Laryngoscope 1970;80:145-76   DOI   ScienceOn
14 Abramson AL, Zielinski B. Congenital laryngeal saccular cyst of the newborn. Laryngoscope 1984;94:1580-2
15 Wang W, Tovar JA, Eizaguirre I, Aldazabal P. Airway obstruction and gastroesophageal reflux: an experimental study on the pathogenesis of the association. J Pediatr Surg 1993;28:995-8   DOI   ScienceOn
16 Gutierrez JP, Berkowitz RG, Robertson CF. Vallecular cysts in newborns and young infants. Pediatr pulmonol 1999;27: 282-5   DOI   ScienceOn
17 Yao TC, Chiu CY, Wu KC, Wu LJ, Huang JL. Failure to thrive caused by the coexistence of vallecular cyst, laryngo malacia and gastroesophageal reflux in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolayngol 2004;68:1459-64   DOI   ScienceOn
18 Mitchell DB, Irwin BC, Bailey CM, Evans IN.G. Cyst of the infant larynx. J Laryngol Otol 1987;101:833-8   DOI
19 Gluckman PG, Chu TW, van Hasselt CA. Neonatal vallecu lar cysts and failure to thrive. J Laryngol Otol 1992;106: 448-9   DOI
20 Chung PS, Chung YW, Park SJ, Kim Me. A clinicopathologic study of epiglottic and vallecular cysts. Korean J Otolaryngol 2004;47:157-60
21 Myer CM. Vallecular cyst in the newborn. Ear Nose Throat J 1988;67:122-4