Aplasia of the epiglottis: a rare congenital anomaly

Aplasia of the epiglottis is a rare laryngeal anomaly. We present a case of absence of the epiglottis in a child whose clinical course has been followed for nine years. She required a tracheostomy at two years of age for obstructive sleep apnea which resulted in heart failure; she was eventually decannulated at age seven. This case report highlights the clinical challenges faced in the identification and treatment of the sequelae of this defect. Both endoscopic and computed tomography (CT) documentation are provided. Embryological development and a review of the literature are also discussed.