Laryngeal gout

A review of the literature reveals only 12 reported cases of laryngeal gout. We describe three further cases of laryngeal gout, the largest series ever published. The first case is previously undescribed acute gouty cricoarytenoiditis resulting in acute airway embarrassment requiring tracheotomy, and then we describe two cases of chronic tophaceous involvement of the thyroid lamina with computed tomography (CT) images of this process. The paucity of literature on this subject may not only be due to rarity but also lack of clinical awareness. Gouty involvement of the larynx must be considered in any patient with a history of gout who presents with hoarseness, odynophagia, dysphagia, stridor or neck lump. Acute airway compromise may require tracheotomy, whereas chronic airway problems may necessitate endoscopic tophi removal, lateralization procedures or even permanent tracheostomy.