Laryngeal mucosal histology in laryngomalacia: the evidence for gastro-oesophageal reflux laryngitis

Abstract

Objective: To describe the histopathological changes of the mucosa in laryngomalacia; look for any relationship with gastro-oesophageal reflux and to describe the histological changes of reflux laryngitis in laryngomalacia.

Methods: We examined serial histological sections from nine cases of laryngomalacia, who had aryepiglottoplasty and compared the histopathological features with five cases of postintubation inflammatory laryngitis and five age-matched autopsy specimens of normal larynx.

Results: Five of the cases of laryngomalacia had mild inflammation in the form of basal cell hyperplasia and chronic inflammation close to the basement membrane. Deeper subepithelium was oedematous. Two cases had moderate and two cases severe inflammation. The latter showed ulceration and a dense band of chronic inflammation in the immediate subepithelium with underlying oedema. Three of the cases had gastro-oesophageal reflux proven by barium swallow. Two of these showed intraepithelial eosinophils.

Conclusions: A band of inflammation of variable intensity just beneath the epithelium with oedema deep to it is the most important histological feature of laryngomalacia. The presence of intraepithelial eosinophils appears to be a histological indication for reflux aetiology of the inflammation.