Congenital laryngeal cysts

Congenital cysts of the larynx occur rarely. Their incidence amounts to abo ut 1.8/100 000 newborns. Most frequently, these cysts are located in the su praglottic region, 75% of them within the plica aryepiglottica. The leading symptoms, inspiratoric strider, cyanosis, and jugular and epigastric retra ctions, are caused by blockage of the airway. Therefore, laryngeal cysts of ten lead to severe respiratory obstruction immediately past partum, giving rise to an emergency intervention. The case report demonstrates a newborn with a laryngeal cyst located in the region of the right plica aryepiglottica. After emergency intubation, a pr imary punction and, some days later, a secondary endoscopic cyst removal we re performed.