Introduction: Hemangioma 1226 1:10 16 5 4 3 N/A 0 Venous

Vascular Lesions of the Upper Airway:
Characterization of Anatomic Distribution
1; Teresa M. O, MD 2; Nazaneen N Grant, MD 3; Ronda E Alexander, MD
4
2
Andrew Blitzer, MD, DDS ; Milton Waner, MD
1‐ University of Texas Medical School at Houston Houston, TX; 2‐ The Vascular Birthmark Institute of New York, Roosevelt & Beth Israel, NY;
3‐ Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC; 4‐ New York Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders NY, NY
Introduction:
While cutaneous and deep neck space vascular lesions are familiar to Otolaryngologists, the relevance of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) to the management of these disorders can be overlooked. Experience shows that Hemangiomas, Lymphatic Malformations and Venous Malformations can affect the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx. Our objective was to assess the pattern of distribution of these lesions and the therapy required by each.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to a private practice specializing in vascular anomalies. Patients with Head and Neck manifestations were identified and segregated according to diagnosis. Those whose charts contained complete information were included in the current data set.
Head
M:F & Neck ratio
Hemangioma
1226 1:10
UADT involve‐ Larynx Trach
ment
Laser Sclero‐
therapy
Surgical Excision
0
16
5
4
3
N/A
54
15
32
19
Venous
Malformation
87
1:1.8
25
10
3
Lymphatic Malformation
138 1:1.2
84
5
24
Lymphatic
Venous
Hemangioma
24
(23 pts) (10 pts) (16 pts)
63
(12 pts) (16 pts) (25 pts)
Discussion:
Vascular malformations of all 3 types occur throughout the UADT. Involvement of the larynx, however, is uncommon. When present, it is associated with cutaneous involvement of the V3 dermatome in both hemangiomas and venous malformations; this relationship was not seen in lymphatic malformations. Across the spectrum of vascular malformations, tracheostomy was infrequently required to relieve airway obstruction. This was more often used to compensate for supraglottic, rather than glottic, obstruction. Particularly noticeable was the incidence of this in LMs, which required the highest rate of tracheostomy in the absence of direct laryngeal disease (suprgalottic disease). While our patient population may be skewed towards more complicated cases, the rare use of tracheotomy in our practice emphasizes the potential for early recognition and treatment to prevent progression of airway obstruction. Large congenital LMs and VMs, of course, are exceptions to this. Selected References:
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