Adult vallecular cyst: Thirteen-year experience

Gilead Berger*, Eran Averbuch, Keren Zilka, Rachel Berger, Dov Ophir

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

40 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To assess the characteristics of adult vallecular cyst. Study Design and Settings: A retrospective chart review from a university affiliated hospital. Subjects and Methods: Clinical manifestations and airway management of 38 consecutive adult patients with vallecular cyst admitted between 1992 and 2004 were studied. Results: Two distinct groups were identified: infected (n = 24) and noninfected (n = 14). Twenty-two (91.7%) patients of the former group had acute epiglottitis with an abrupt onset culminating in abscess formation in 19 (79.2%) and airway compromise in 9 (37.5%) compared with none in the noninfected group (P = 0.006). In 4 (18.2%) of 22 patients, the origin of the infected vallecular cyst was evident only after symptoms subsided. Three patients had recurrent acute epiglottitis. The noninfected group had a relatively prolonged mild clinical course. Conclusions: Two types of vallecular cysts were characterized. Abscess formation was the hallmark of adult infected vallecular cyst. Significance: To improve patient care, endoscopic follow-up is advocated. In patients with recurrent episodes of acute epiglottitis, imaging is recommended.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)321-327
Number of pages7
JournalOtolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Volume138
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2008

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