LARYNGOTRACHEOESOPHAGEAL CLEFTS

This article reviews laryngeal cleft, anomalies from the Laryngeal Dev elopment Laboratory at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and inc ludes a discussion of the classification of laryngotracheoesophageal c lefts based on previous work and the information presented herein. Of the 115 laryngeal specimens obtained between 1975 and 1995, 11 have la ryngeal cleft anomalies. Eight have a submucous laryngeal cleft. There is 1 laryngotracheoesophageal cleft, type II (partial cricoid cleft); and there are 2 laryngotracheoesophageal clefts, type III (complete c ricoid cleft). The histopathologic findings are presented in detail an d the literature is reviewed. Photomicrographs and drawings illustrate the pathology and classification. Clinical presentation, diagnosis, e valuation, and management are discussed, as is the embryology.