External laryngocele: an unusual cause of respiratory distress in a newborn.

Congenital laryngoceles are rare causes of respiratory distress in the newborn. We report a case of airway compromise in a two day old newborn boy secondary to a solitary giant external laryngocele. No internal component or other laryngeal pathology was found. The patient had a progressively enlarging neck mass and increasing stridor culminating in respiratory arrest. Tracheotomy was avoided and the lesion was excised in its entirety. Airway management, the role of CT scanning, and surgical excision of laryngoceles are discussed.