Pyolaryngocoele: Management of an Unusual Cause of Odynophagia and Neck Swelling

Abstract

We present a case of 82 years old female with two-week history of neck swelling, odynophagia, hoarseness and cough. There was a tender, fluctuant swelling below the mandible on right side. An urgent C.T scan showed it to be a pyolaryngocele. High dose intra venous antibiotic, analgesia and nasogastric feeding resolved the acute infective episode. The residual laryngocele was treated by an excision via an external approach. A pyolaryngocele is a rare complication of laryngocele that becomes secondarily infected. It can cause feeding and respiratory compromise because of its compression symptoms. A CT is helpful for prompt diagnosis and for planning definitive surgical management. The aim of this paper is to highlight the need to recognise and then treat these cases aggressively. The best treatment option is to remove the laryngocele in-toto to prevent recurrence.