Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
Vallecular cyst: a dangerous cause of failure to thrive in infants
Pei-Shan Lee1, Annie Larrow2,3, Laurie Bernard Stover2,3
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA pel066@health.ucsd.edu.
Abstract:
A 2-month-old full-term female infant with medical history of situs inversus totalis presented to the emergency department with congestion and abnormal breathing. She was discovered to have failure to thrive (FTT) and subsequently admitted. Investigations revealed a large vallecular mass at the base of her tongue which was noted to cause severe, intermittent airway obstruction. The mass underwent marsupialisation by otolaryngology (ENT) and pathology confirmed a diagnosis of vallecular cyst. The patient made a full recovery and is now growing and thriving. This case emphasises the need to consider anatomic airway abnormalities in the differential diagnosis of young infants with the constellation of respiratory symptoms and FTT. Such airway abnormalities can cause life-threatening airway obstruction if not discovered.
Related Concept Videos
Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
Cystic Fibrosis: Management
Sinus disease and chronic...
Teratogenicity
Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:

