%0 Journal Article
%T Minimally invasive procedure for diagnosis and treatment of vallecular cysts in children: review of 156 cases.
%A Wang GX
%A Zhang FZ
%A Zhao J
%A Wang H
%A Li HB
%A Wang XM
%A Zhang J
%A Ni X
%J Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
%V 277
%N 12
%D Dec 2020
%M 32621247
%F 3.236
%R 10.1007/s00405-020-06163-9
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Vallecular cyst is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening disease. The aim of this study was to review the presentation, evaluation, and treatment of vallecular cysts in children.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Medical records of 156 patients treated for vallecular cysts between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into four age groups for comparison of clinical data: A, < 1 month; B, 1-6 months; C, 7-12 months; and D, > 1 year.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The median age of all patients (98 males and 58 females) was 12.1 months (range 1 day-11 years), including 21, 86, 21, and 28 patients in group A, B, C, and D, respectively. A diagnosis of vallecular cysts was made for 135 patients using a combination of flexible laryngoscopy and ultrasound, and ten patients (all in group A) required pre-surgery ventilation support. The most common symptoms were wheezing (59.6%) and stridor (36.5%). Ten patients experienced difficulty with intubation. Endoscopic-assisted transoral coblation marsupialization was performed for all patients, combined with supraglottoplasty for 41 out of 68 patients with concurrent laryngomalacia. Patients in group D had a longer operation time and higher incidence of intraoperative bleeding, two of whom experienced post-operation recurrence, and symptoms resolved after a second operation in both cases.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Flexible laryngoscopy and ultrasound are recommended for a diagnosis in suspected cases of vallecular cysts. Coblation marsupialization has advantages of minor damage, low recurrence rate, and suitability for all age groups.