Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal lipomas in pediatric patients

Abstract

Objective: Analyze data from case reports on the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic characteristics of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal lipomas in pediatric patients. Methods: Integrative review of case reports following PRISMA guidelines, with searches conducted in PubMed, the Virtual Health Library, and Google Scholar. Results: Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal lipomas are rare, especially in pediatric cases. The search identified only 13 case reports. The predominant symptoms were airway obstruction (dysphonia, stridor, apnea) and dysphagia. Diagnosis was based on laryngoscopy and imaging methods (Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The lipomas showed substantial variability in size (2 to 16 cm). The treatment of choice was complete surgical excision, performed via an endoscopic approach (for smaller lesions) or an open approach (for larger lesions or those with extension), with favorable outcomes in most cases. Incomplete excision was associated with a risk of recurrence. Final considerations: Although rare, laryngeal/hypopharyngeal lipomas in pediatric patients are potentially serious. Their management requires accurate imaging-based diagnosis and complete surgical excision, which leads to favorable outcomes and underscores the importance of long-term follow-up.