Positron emission tomography evidence of tracheal tube-induced posterior laryngeal pressure injury.

Tracheal tubes are essential for airway management during general anaesthesia but can cause mucosal pressure injuries, especially with prolonged procedures and larger tube sizes. We report a case of a 74-year-old woman who underwent a 3.5-hour robot-assisted bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsies with an 8.0 mm tracheal tube, later presenting with a severe protracted sore throat. Review of her post-procedural positron emission tomography scan uniquely revealed focal F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose uptake along the posterior larynx, consistent with localised inflammation from tracheal intubation, a demonstration which has yet to be described. This case highlights positron emission tomography imaging as an incidental but compelling visualisation of intubation-related laryngeal pressure injury.