Acquired laryngeal lesions. Pathologic study using serial macrosections.

OBJECTIVE

To present the pathologic findings of acquired lesions of the larynx in infants.

SETTING

The Laryngeal Development Laboratory of Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Ill.

MATERIALS

One hundred fifteen larynges received at postmortem examination from 1975 to 1992.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Acquired laryngeal lesions from intubation trauma.

TECHNIQUE

Whole-organ serial section of larynges.

RESULTS

Fifty-three of the 115 specimens exhibited acquired laryngeal lesions: 36, submucosal mucous gland hyperplasia; 12, submucosal fibrosis; 10, granulation tissue; eight, ulceration; eight, fragmented or distorted cricoid; four, cricoid ossification; four, ductal cysts; three, healed furrows, and one, anterior glottic synechia. Some specimens exhibited more than one type of acquired abnormality.