Cystic hygroma as a rare cause of obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract EN

A 16-year-old female presented with a seven-month history of episodic cessation of breath during sleep, as¬sociated with loud snoring and bluish discoloration of lips.

She was a known case of cystic hygroma since birth with many surgical interventions and multiple relapses, the last having been laser therapy of a laryngeal cyst seven months previously.

She had obvious throat scar¬ring and a small cyst in soft palate.

On the right side of the neck there was a non-tender soft tissue mass 6x4 cm in d'ameter and decreased breath sounds on auscultation of the right upper zone of the chest.

MRI of the neck and chest showed a mass involving the right side of neck to rhe upper part of the chest and severe narrowing of the upper airway at the base of the tongue.

A sleep study confirmed obstructive sleep apnea.

She was referred to the UK for further surgery and treatment and died sud¬denly while there.

The rare association of cystic hygroma and sleep apnea is reviewed.