Laryngocele: A Rare Long-Term Complication Following Neck Surgery?

Introduction Laryngocele is an abnormal dilatation of the laryngeal saccule. Suggested etiologies include congenital enlargement of the saccule, weakness of laryngeal tissues, and increased intralaryngeal pressure. Only a few reports have described the late evolution of laryngocele following neck surgery. Case Presentation Two heavy smoking patients presented with hoarseness in voice because of laryngocele, which has evolved many years following ipsilateral neck surgery: hemithyroidectomy 20 years earlier and frontolateral hemilaringectomy 12 years earlier. Both patients were treated similarly by an endoscopic laser-assisted resection of the laryngocele. No other risk factor could have been attributed to its development. Follow-up was unremarkable. Discussion Laryngeal locus minoris violation may result in the development of laryngocele in the long run following neck surgery and may be considered as a late rare surgical complication. In addition, heavy smoking or its sequelae may predispose this condition.