BACKGROUND: Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft (LTEC) is a rare disease in which the larynx and trachea communicate posteriorly to the esophagus. It is often associated with other congenital malformations, particularly gastrointestinal anomalies. Herein, we report a case of LTEC associated with a gastric polypoid lesion in bronchial tissue.
METHODS: A gastric mass was detected in a male fetus since week 21 of gestation using fetal ultrasonography. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy performed after birth revealed a pedunculated polypoid lesion of the gastric fornix. The patient experienced frequent vomiting and aspiration pneumonia, which persisted after nasoduodenal tube feeding. Communication between the airway and esophagus was suspected. Laryngoscopy performed 30 days later revealed an LTEC (type III). Partial gastrectomy was performed when the patient was 93 days of age. Histopathological examination revealed tumor consisting of cartilage tissue covered with a layer of respiratory epithelium.
CONCLUSIONS: The gastric tumor associated with LTEC exhibited structures mimicking bronchial tissue. LTEC occurs because of foregut maldevelopment, and the tumorous respiratory tissue in the stomach may have been formed from the same abnormal foregut development event as LTEC.

We report a rare case of a neonatal girl who presented with coughing and dyspnea immediately after feeds. At birth, she was noted to have an imperforate anus with a posterior fourchette fistula from which she was stooling. Initial imaging with radiography showed a normal bowel gas pattern; however, lumbar vertebral anomalies were noted. An upper GI series was performed and revealed a laryngeal cleft and malrotation. Ultrasound confirmed malrotation with an abnormal SMA-SMV relationship. Since laryngeal cleft is a rare condition and may not be known to most radiologists, its incidence is likely underestimated. It is important to note the association of laryngeal clefts with VACTERL and malrotation. In addition, it is essential not to confuse a laryngeal cleft with a tracheoesophageal fistula since the management differs.