[Morphology of "asphyxia-induced epiglottis form" in newborn infants, infants and young children].

A systematic histological study of cross-sections of the larynx from 52 fatalities (neonates, infants and young children) revealed a broad spectrum of anatomical variants in the epiglottis form, which were caused by variations in the epiglottic cartilage. There was no correlation between the epiglottis form and the age of the child. Furthermore, no differences in shape could be established between cases of SIDS and control cases. The term "asphyxial-related epiglottis form" appears to be inappropriate. The commonly found supraglottic laryngitis on the laryngeal aspect of the epiglottis was seen in combination with histologically proven infections in the upper and lower respiratory tract. Histological investigation of the larynx provides valuable information for the morphological diagnosis in fatal cases in early life.