Balloon dilatation to treat plasmacytosis of the supraglottic larynx

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology Vol. 126; no. 10; pp. 1077 - 1080
• Main Authors: Mistry, S G, Watson, G J, Rothera, M P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Airway management; Angioplasty; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Case studies; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Clinical Records; Dilatation - instrumentation; Humans; Laryngostenosis - etiology; Laryngostenosis - pathology; Laryngostenosis - therapy; Larynx; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mucous Membrane - pathology; Multiple myeloma; Ostomy; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Plasma; Pneumology; Tracheotomy; Trauma; United States > US; Plasmacytosis; Larynx; Balloon Dilatation; Supraglottis; Airway Obstruction; Treatment; Respiratory disease; Dilatation; Sounding balloon; Airways obstruction; ENT
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215112001922

We discuss the use of balloon dilatation to relieve supraglottic stenosis caused by mucous membrane plasmacytosis. A 54-year-old man with a known diagnosis of mucous membrane plasmacytosis presented with dysphonia and worsening airway obstruction which required a tracheostomy. He underwent balloon dilatation of the supraglottic larynx using an angioplasty balloon within sequentially sized endotracheal tubes. This enabled successful decannulation, with minimal re-stenosis at eight-month follow up. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of supraglottic stenosis caused by plasmacytosis to be successfully treated using this method. We have shown that this minimally invasive technique deals effectively with a complex airway and minimises re-stenosis.