Lateral thyrotomy approach on the paraglottic space for laryngocele resection

Objective: To report on the results of using a lateral thyrotomy approach o n the paraglottic space to gain greater access for laryngocele resection un der direct vision. Study Design: A 26-year prospective and retrospective st udy. The study was conducted on 10 adult patients (5 men and 5 women) who h ad laryngocele of varying size on the paraglottic space. Six of the patient s had internal laryngocele and four had exteriorized laryngocele. Five lary ngoceles were left-sided, three were right-sided, and two were bilateral. M ethods: A V-shaped, full-thickness thyroid lamina resection with the triang le base at the superior border and the apex at a point midway of the thyroi d lamina vertical extent was performed, Results: A V-shaped lateral thyroto my made exposure to the paraglottic space possible for direct submucosal la ryngocele dissection. This approach has presented no complications to date. Postoperative minor edema or hematoma was found in the aryepiglottic and v entricular folds, but this disappeared within a few days. There was no recu rrence; the minimum follow-up was 1 year, Conclusion: The triangular latera l thyrotomy approach provided access to the paraglottic space and superb vi sibility for resection of laryngocele of any size under direct vision, thus avoiding recurrence, morbidity, and complications.