An Unusual Cause of Laryngeal Dyspnea

Abstract

Introduction: Medialization laryngoplasty with autologous fat (MLA) is indicated in some patients with glottic insufficiency. The approach is usually safe but long-term complications are poorly described.

Case report: We present the history of a patient who developed progressive dyspnea and dysphonia two decades after bilateral MLA, which were due to the development of laryngea lipoma into the site of fat injection.

Discussion: The potential relationship between MLA and the development of laryngeal lipoma was discussed. The lipoma may be a long-term survival of too much fat tissue, which was reorganized into a well-limited lipoma over the long-term. Another hypothesis consisted of the injection of fat tissue, including fatty stem cells, and the development of a lipoma over the year through the neovascularization process.

Conclusion: We reported the first case of lipoma developed into the laryngeal site of fat injection. Future studies are needed to explore the long-term evolution of injected fat tissue in the context of MLA.

Keywords: Autologous fat grafting; Complications; Injection laryngoplasty; Laryngeal lipoma.