Ultrasound in the diagnosis of laryngoceles

Clinical and anatomical features of laryngoceles are reviewed. Furthermore, the ultrasound characteristics of 8 patients with laryngoceles are outlined. Internal laryngoceles appeared to be echo-free, well-defined structures inside the thyroid cartilage. Combined laryngoceles had an additional cystic mass outside the laryngeal skeleton, at the thyrohyoid membrane. Characteristically, this cystic mass was connected through the thyrohyoid membrane to the intra-laryngeal mass. Finally, the value of ultrasound examination in the diagnostic work-up of patients with laryngoceles is appreciated and compared to the respective values of ENT examination, conventional tomography and CT.