VALLECULAR CYSTS IN ADULT POPULATION: TEN YEAR EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Objective:

To compare the results of LASER and cold knife surgery for the treatment of vallecular cysts in adults.

Material & Methods:

It was an retrospective study of 24 consecutive patients who underwent LASER and cold knife surgery for vallecular cysts in university affiliated teaching hospital.

Results:

Three patients did not have adequate follow up & hence were excluded from the study. Patients were assessed in follow up for any recurrences. Out of 21 patients, sixteen were male and five were females. Age ranged from 14 –56 years and duration of symptoms was 1 – 14 months. All the patients revealed a cyst in the vallecula on indirect laryngoscopic examination and plain X- ray soft tissue neck lateral view. CT scan was done in two cases only. Tracheostomy was done in three patients for airway management (LASER– 1,Cold Knife–2). Fifteen patients underwent LASER surgery where as six patients underwent cold knife surgery. Lingual surface of epiglottis was the most common site of origin
(71%). Follow up ranged from 6 months to 48 months. Two recurrences were noted in cold knife
surgery group, whereas, no recurrence was noted in patients undergoing LASER surgery.

Conclusion:

LASER is a promising tool for treatment of vallecular cysts.

Keywords: Vallecular cycts; LASER; Tracheostomy; Epiglottic cysts