An unusual cause of inspiratory stridor in the newborn: congenital pharyngeal XXXX - a case report.

@entity1 @entity44 @entity5 @entity649 @entity12203 @entity1224
BACKGROUND: Neonatal inspiratory stridor is an important examination finding that requires immediate and adequate evaluation of the underlying etiology. Depending on the severity of the @entity1224 or absence of associated symptoms such as @entity649 and feeding problems, early initiation of a complete diagnostic workup can be crucial. The most common cause of neonatal inspiratory stridor is @entity12203 , however, several differential diagnoses need to be investigated. More rare causes include oral or laryngeal masses. @entity44 of the head and neck region are one of the most unusual causes of @entity649 during the neonatal period. We present a case of a mature @entity44 in the oropharynx presenting with @entity1224 in a newborn @entity1 . CASE PRESENTATION: A four-day-old female Caucasian @entity1 was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital because of inspiratory stridor and profound desaturations while feeding. Diagnostic workup by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and flexible endoscopy revealed a pediculated lesion in the pharyngeal region causing intermittent complete @entity1224 . The mass was surgically removed by transoral laser resection on the seventh day of life. Histological evaluation was consistent with a mature @entity44 without any signs of @entity5 . The further hospital course was uneventful, routine follow-up examinations at 3, 6 and 9  months of age showed no evidence of @entity5 recurrence. CONCLUSION: Neonatal stridor is a frequent symptom in the neonatal period and is mostly caused by non-life-threatening pathologies. On rare occasions, however, the underlying conditions are more critical. A careful stepwise diagnostic investigation to rule out these conditions, to identify rare causes and to initiate early treatment is therefore warranted.
