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Supraglottic Laryngeal Stenosis Following an Acute Upper Airway Infection : A Case Treated under Local Anesthesia

Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Cicatricial laryngeal stenosis is a rare disorder characterized by progressive airway narrowing and the impairment of both the phonatory and respiratory functions due to fibrosis of the laryngeal mucosa and submucosa. Most cases are associated with either iatrogenic injury or autoimmune disease, whereas onset following an acute upper airway infection is extremely uncommon. We herein report a case of cicatricial supraglottic stenosis that developed after an acute upper airway infection which was successfully managed under local anesthesia. An 83-year-old woman developed cicatricial supraglottic stenosis with severe dysphonia following an acute upper airway infection. Laryngoscopy revealed extensive white exudate extending from both arytenoids to the false vocal folds. Despite administering antibiotic and corticosteroid therapy, progressive scarring and laryngeal narrowing led to a worsening of her hoarseness. A transoral excision of the supraglottic lesion and local triamcinolone injections were performed under local anesthesia, followed by postoperative voice therapy. A histopathological examination confirmed pyogenic granuloma. Postoperatively, the laryngeal lumen widened, and the patient’s vocal quality improved. In this case, persistent inflammation after an acute infection was considered to induce fibrosis and scar formation. For patients in whom general anesthesia is either contraindicated or undesirable, a multimodal, minimally invasive approach under local anesthesia may therefore be a safe and effective treatment option for cicatricial laryngeal stenosis.
DOI: 10.5426/larynx.38.50
Authors: Yuki Tanaka, Ryota Ishizuka, Kazunori Igarashi, Takao Goto, Kenji Kondo, Rumi Ueha
Language: English
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7170041994
FWCI:
Cites: 21
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Related to: 10