A newborn case of congenital laryngeal cyst complicated with pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum

Benign congenital laryngeal cysts are rare entities. They often cause chronic hoarseness and severe stridor. Case reports of congenital laryngeal cyst complicated with pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are very rare. A 3112 g full-term male newborn developed stridor which got worse during crying for 12 h after birth. Chest retractions were present with inspiration. Chest X-rays showed the presence of right pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum. Transnasal flexible laryngoscopic examination revealed a large cystic mass, which occupied almost the entire supraglottic airway. The operation was performed with the techniques of laryngomicrosurgery under general anesthesia. The cystic wall was punctured and serous liquid contents were aspirated. Excision of the entire cystic lesion was performed. The next day, extubation was performed without any troubles. The stridor had disappeared and the pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum were improved without further medical intervention. The histopathological examination revealed that the cystic wall consisted of normal squamous epithelial cells. It is reasonable to think that the high airway pressure due to congenital laryngeal cyst was responsible for pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum.