External, asymptomatic laryngocele without known predisposing factors in a middle-aged man.

A laryngocele is an air-filled swelling of the upper pouch (the sacculus) of the laryngeal ventricle of Morgagni, which may herniate through the thyro-hyoid membrane to form a mass which is palpable subcutaneously in the neck. The condition is rare, but is found at times in individuals with laryngeal malignancy and in individuals who have been pre-disposed to it by increased internal laryngeal pressure. When the condition is discovered it is always an indication for a thorough examination of the larynx, with follow-up, bearing in mind the possibility of malignancy.