IDIOPATHIC SUBGLOTTIC STENOSIS - DIAGNOSIS AND ENDOSCOPIC LASER TREATMENT

The records of 15 patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis treated at Royal North Share Hospital,Sydney, between 1980 and 1994 were revi ewed. AU were female and had similar characteristic clinical and histo pathologic features. Endoscopic laser vaporization was the primary tre atment in 12 patients and was successful in maintaining the airway of 8 of these 12; this outcome indicates that the disease can be managed, at least initially, by endoscopic laser treatment in most cases.