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Published on: December 6, 2016
Vallecular cyst as a cause of obstructive sleep apnea in an infant
Aliva De1, Debra M Don, William Magee
1Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. ade@chla.usc.edu
Insights
A 3-month-old infant
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants can stem from various causes.
- Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for infant health and development.
Observation:
- A 3-month-old infant presented with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) confirmed by polysomnography (PSG).
- Further investigation revealed a vallecular cyst as the underlying cause of the infant's OSA.
Findings:
- The infant's high apnea hypopnea index (AHI) indicated significant sleep-disordered breathing.
- Surgical removal of the vallecular cyst successfully resolved the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Implications:
- Vallecular cysts are a rare but treatable cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in infants.
- Polysomnography (PSG) is essential for diagnosing sleep-disordered breathing and identifying underlying causes like vallecular cysts.
- Prompt identification and management of such conditions are vital for infant well-being.
Abstract:
A 3-month-old baby was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on polysomnography (PSG) with a high apnea hypopnea index (AHI). On further investigations he was found to have a vallecular cyst that was successfully treated. We discuss the clinical presentation of vallecular cysts and the importance of polysomnography in identifying this rare condition.
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