Lateral thyrotomy approach on the paraglottic space for laryngocele resection

To report on the results of using a lateral thyrotomy approach on the paraglottic space to gain greater access for laryngocele resection under direct vision.

A 26-year prospective and retrospective study. The study was conducted on 10 adult patients (5 men and 5 women) who had laryngocele of varying size on the paraglottic space. Six of the patients had internal laryngocele and four had exteriorized laryngocele. Five laryngoceles were left-sided, three were right-sided, and two were bilateral.

A V-shaped, full-thickness thyroid lamina resection with the triangle base at the superior border and the apex at a point midway of the thyroid lamina vertical extent was performed.

A V-shaped lateral thyrotomy made exposure to the paraglottic space possible for direct submucosal laryngocele dissection. This approach has presented no complications to date. Postoperative minor edema or hematoma was found in the aryepiglottic and ventricular folds, but this disappeared within a few days. There was no recurrence; the minimum follow-up was 1 year.

The triangular lateral thyrotomy approach provided access to the paraglottic space and superb visibility for resection of laryngocele of any size under direct vision, thus avoiding recurrence, morbidity, and complications.