A vallecular cyst with near-fatal respiratory distress in a newborn

Abstract

Vallecular cyst is a rare but potentially near-fatal cause of respiratory distress in newborns. A male infant was born normally. There was respiratory distress. A cystic mass was found in the right parasagittal area of the hypopharynx and right sublingual region. Examination was done with direct laryngoscopy, and the vallecular cyst was surgically removed. Vallecular cyst should be considered as a differential diagnosis in respiratory distress cases.