Asymptomatic Laryngocele: Incidence and Association with Laryngeal Cancer

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Abstract
Since laryngoceles are usually asymptomatic, their incidence is probably higher than the literature suggests. With the advent of computed tomography, the incidence and significance of the asymptomatic laryngocele in a general head and neck practice can be addressed. To this end, 304 consecutive patients with a variety of otolaryngic diagnoses were studied prospectively by computed tomography of the neck from January 1983 to February 1985. Thirty-eight (12.5%) of the patients had asymptomatic laryngoceles, defined as air-containing structures in the supraglottic region extending more than 5 mm above the superior border of the thyroid cartilage during normal breathing. The incidence of laryngoceles associated with laryngeal cancer (29%) was higher than that for laryngoceles associated with other diseases (9%). No patient with an asymptomatic laryngocele not associated with laryngeal cancer showed evidence of a subsequent laryngeal neoplasm during close follow-up of 10 to 36 months.

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