Intermittent Airway Obstruction Caused by a Laryngeal Cyst Masquerading as Asthma Attacks

Laryngeal cysts are uncommon and account for approximately 5% of all benign laryngeal lesions. Airway obstruction associated with laryngeal cysts has rarely been reported in adults. We report the first case of a laryngeal cyst causing sudden airway obstruction in an adult patient with asthma. A 70-year-old man who had been recently diagnosed with asthma presented to an emergency room (ER) with sudden dyspnea and a choking sensation. These symptoms disappeared soon after arrival to the ER but recurred several days later, again spontaneously resolving without medication or further treatment. Interestingly, a pedunculated laryngeal cyst was diagnosed incidentally by esophagoduodenogastroscopy and was completely removed by CO₂ laser. Laryngeal cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with asthma who show the unusual symptoms of airway obstruction. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2015;26:117-120)