Fatal Epiglottic Abscess After Radiotherapy for Laryngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Acute epiglottitis is a rare condition, especially in adults, largely owing to the widespread vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae. Traumatic epiglottitis as a result of thermal or caustic insults is documented. Epiglottic abscess formation is described as a sequela of epiglottitis in some cases. The development of epiglottic abscess from epiglottitis secondary to radiotherapy has previously been described in the literature; however, there are no reports of fatalities due to epiglottic abscess after radiotherapy. We present an unusual case of an adult sudden death due to epiglottic abscess formation subsequent to radiotherapy for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Spontaneous MRSA postcricoid abscess: A case report and literature review

“…Laryngeal abscesses can be fatal due to the potential for obstruction of the airway; this outcome was nearly universal in the era before antibiotics . Laryngeal abscesses have been most commonly described as a sequela from acute supraglottitis.…”

Sudden Death from Acute Epiglottitis and Epiglottic Abscess in Adult

“…The prevalence of abscess is two-fold higher among those who need airway intervention [1]. The progression and manifestation of symptoms of acute epiglottitis in adults is slower than that in children because the adult respiratory tract has a wider diameter [4,5]. The slow-progressing nature of adult epiglottitis contributes to the frequent formation of abscess in adults due to prolonged inflammation and coalescence.…”

“…Epiglottic abscess may result from a coalescent epiglottic infection or secondary infection of an epiglottic retention cyst. Epiglottic abscess may also occur after radiotherapy for laryngeal cancer [4]. Anatomically, the lingual surface of the epiglottis is commonly involved [1].…”

Epiglottic abscess

“…A 2014 Pubmed search for the terms epiglottic abscess and its variations revealed only a few case reports in the United States [1][2][3][4][5]. Epiglottic abscess occurs almost exclusively among adults, and management of epiglottitis with abscess can be more complicated than epiglottitis alone, although studies report conflicting data regarding mortality.…”