Epiglottic cyst, base of tongue cyst, ductal cyst, saccular cyst
Definitions
Vallecula = inferior border oropharynx
Anterior to epiglottis, posterior to base of tongue
Congenital cyst arising in vallecula
Proposed theories of origin
Secondary to obstruction of submucosal glands
Secondary to congenital cystic distension of laryngeal saccule
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Wang GX et al: Minimally invasive procedure for diagnosis and treatment of vallecular cysts in children: review of 156 cases. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 277(12):3407-14, 2020
Li Y et al: Vallecular cyst in the pediatric population: evaluation and management. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 113:198-203, 2018
Cheng J et al: Endoscopic surgical management of inspiratory stridor in newborns and infants. Am J Otolaryngol. 36(5):697-700, 2015
Lee DH et al: Clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of vallecular cysts in adults. Acta Otolaryngol. 1-4, 2015
Hsieh LC et al: The outcomes of infantile vallecular cyst post CO₂ laser treatment. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 77(5):655-7, 2013
Tsai YT et al: Treatment of vallecular cysts in infants with and without coexisting laryngomalacia using endoscopic laser marsupialization: fifteen-year experience at a single-center. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 77(3):424-8, 2013
Gonik N et al: Radiofrequency ablation of pediatric vallecular cysts. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 76(12):1819-22, 2012
Chen EY et al: Transoral approach for direct and complete excision of vallecular cysts in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 75(9):1147-51, 2011
Suzuki J et al: Congenital vallecular cyst in an infant: case report and review of 52 recent cases. J Laryngol Otol. 125(11):1199-203, 2011
Breysem L et al: Vallecular cyst as a cause of congenital stridor: report of five patients. Pediatr Radiol. 39(8):828-31, 2009
Cheng SS et al: Symptomatic congenital vallecular cyst in a neonate. J Pediatr. 155(3):446, 2009
Pereira KD: Laryngeal saccular cyst in an infant. Ear Nose Throat J. 88(1):726-7, 2009
Sands NB et al: Series of congenital vallecular cysts: a rare yet potentially fatal cause of upper airway obstruction and failure to thrive in the newborn. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 38(1):6-10, 2009
Goold AL et al: Lingual hamartoma in an infant: CT and MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 28(1):30-1, 2007
Busuttil M et al: Congenital laryngeal cyst: benefits of prenatal diagnosis and multidisciplinary perinatal management. Fetal Diagn Ther. 19(4):373-6, 2004
Suh MW et al: Apnea spells in an infant with vallecular cyst. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 113(9):765, 2004
Yao TC et al: Failure to thrive caused by the coexistence of vallecular cyst, laryngomalacia and gastroesophageal reflux in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 68(11):1459-64, 2004
Tibesar RJ et al: Apnea spells in an infant with vallecular cyst. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 112(9 Pt 1):821-4, 2003
Hsieh WS et al: Vallecular cyst: an uncommon cause of stridor in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr. 159(1-2):79-81, 2000
Ku AS: Vallecular cyst: report of four cases--one with co-existing laryngomalacia. J Laryngol Otol. 114(3):224-6, 2000
Wang CR et al: Vallecular cysts: report of two cases. Pediatr Radiol. 25 Suppl 1:S218-9, 1995
Myer CM: Vallecular cyst in the newborn. Ear Nose Throat J. 67(2):122-4, 1988
Albert DM et al: Two cases of vallecular cyst presenting with acute stridor. J Laryngol Otol. 99(4):421-5, 1985
DeSanto LW: Laryngocele, laryngeal mucocele, large saccules, and laryngeal saccular cysts: a developmental spectrum. Laryngoscope. 84(8):1291-6, 1974
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References
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Tables
KEY FACTS
Terminology
Imaging
Top Differential Diagnoses
Clinical Issues
TERMINOLOGY
Synonyms
Epiglottic cyst, base of tongue cyst, ductal cyst, saccular cyst
Definitions
Vallecula = inferior border oropharynx
Anterior to epiglottis, posterior to base of tongue
Congenital cyst arising in vallecula
Proposed theories of origin
Secondary to obstruction of submucosal glands
Secondary to congenital cystic distension of laryngeal saccule
IMAGING
General Features
CT Findings
MR Findings
Ultrasonographic Findings
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
PATHOLOGY
General Features
CLINICAL ISSUES
Presentation
Natural History & Prognosis
Treatment
DIAGNOSTIC CHECKLIST
Image Interpretation Pearls
Selected References
Wang GX et al: Minimally invasive procedure for diagnosis and treatment of vallecular cysts in children: review of 156 cases. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 277(12):3407-14, 2020
Li Y et al: Vallecular cyst in the pediatric population: evaluation and management. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 113:198-203, 2018
Cheng J et al: Endoscopic surgical management of inspiratory stridor in newborns and infants. Am J Otolaryngol. 36(5):697-700, 2015
Lee DH et al: Clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of vallecular cysts in adults. Acta Otolaryngol. 1-4, 2015
Hsieh LC et al: The outcomes of infantile vallecular cyst post CO₂ laser treatment. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 77(5):655-7, 2013
Tsai YT et al: Treatment of vallecular cysts in infants with and without coexisting laryngomalacia using endoscopic laser marsupialization: fifteen-year experience at a single-center. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 77(3):424-8, 2013
Gonik N et al: Radiofrequency ablation of pediatric vallecular cysts. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 76(12):1819-22, 2012
Chen EY et al: Transoral approach for direct and complete excision of vallecular cysts in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 75(9):1147-51, 2011
Suzuki J et al: Congenital vallecular cyst in an infant: case report and review of 52 recent cases. J Laryngol Otol. 125(11):1199-203, 2011
Breysem L et al: Vallecular cyst as a cause of congenital stridor: report of five patients. Pediatr Radiol. 39(8):828-31, 2009
Cheng SS et al: Symptomatic congenital vallecular cyst in a neonate. J Pediatr. 155(3):446, 2009
Pereira KD: Laryngeal saccular cyst in an infant. Ear Nose Throat J. 88(1):726-7, 2009
Sands NB et al: Series of congenital vallecular cysts: a rare yet potentially fatal cause of upper airway obstruction and failure to thrive in the newborn. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 38(1):6-10, 2009
Goold AL et al: Lingual hamartoma in an infant: CT and MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 28(1):30-1, 2007
Busuttil M et al: Congenital laryngeal cyst: benefits of prenatal diagnosis and multidisciplinary perinatal management. Fetal Diagn Ther. 19(4):373-6, 2004
Suh MW et al: Apnea spells in an infant with vallecular cyst. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 113(9):765, 2004
Yao TC et al: Failure to thrive caused by the coexistence of vallecular cyst, laryngomalacia and gastroesophageal reflux in an infant. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 68(11):1459-64, 2004
Tibesar RJ et al: Apnea spells in an infant with vallecular cyst. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 112(9 Pt 1):821-4, 2003
Hsieh WS et al: Vallecular cyst: an uncommon cause of stridor in newborn infants. Eur J Pediatr. 159(1-2):79-81, 2000
Ku AS: Vallecular cyst: report of four cases--one with co-existing laryngomalacia. J Laryngol Otol. 114(3):224-6, 2000
Wang CR et al: Vallecular cysts: report of two cases. Pediatr Radiol. 25 Suppl 1:S218-9, 1995
Myer CM: Vallecular cyst in the newborn. Ear Nose Throat J. 67(2):122-4, 1988
Albert DM et al: Two cases of vallecular cyst presenting with acute stridor. J Laryngol Otol. 99(4):421-5, 1985
DeSanto LW: Laryngocele, laryngeal mucocele, large saccules, and laryngeal saccular cysts: a developmental spectrum. Laryngoscope. 84(8):1291-6, 1974
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