Ultrasound and colour Doppler in infantile subglottic haemangioma

Subglottic haemangioma causes progressive and life-threatening stridor, typically manifesting at age 2-3 months. Standard diagnosis is by laryngoscopy. Larynx sonography is rarely used but allows assessment of the presence and extension of a mass that impinges on the subglottic airway. The additional use of colour Doppler enables demonstration of the vascular nature of such masses.

To compare US and endoscopic findings in infants with subglottic haemangioma and to evaluate accuracy of US and colour Doppler imaging in this diagnosis.

We report eight infants with subglottic haemangioma seen in our institution over the last decade. They presented with laryngeal stridor and were all investigated with both US and endoscopy. Six infants underwent colour Doppler sonography.

US and endoscopic findings showed excellent anatomical correlation in lateral subglottic haemangioma. Colour Doppler imaging was deemed helpful in four infants.

Larynx sonography with complementary colour Doppler imaging was non-invasive and helpful in the diagnosis of subglottic haemangioma.