Lymphatic Malformations of the Airway

Objectives/HypothesisTo characterize the anatomic distribution of lymphatic malformations of the upper airway.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary care referral center specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular anomalies.MethodsA 7-year (2004-2011) retrospective chart review of patients with lymphatic malformations was performed at a tertiary care referral center. Patients with airway lymphatic malformations were identified. The anatomic distribution of lymphatic malformations within the airway was reviewed.ResultsA total of 141 patients with lymphatic malformations of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) were studied. Of these, 15 (11%) had laryngeal (supraglottic) involvement. In all of these patients, the disease was above the true vocal folds. Seventy-four (52%) patients had involvement of 1 anatomic zone (most common was the oral cavity), and 67 (48%) had involvement of multiple zones. With regard to each zone, 105 (75%) patients had involvement of the oral cavity, 5...