Larynx, hypopharynx & trachea
Inflammatory / infectious lesions
Laryngitis / laryngoepiglottitis
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Last author update: 1 November 2013
Last staff update: 10 March 2023
Copyright: 2002-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Laryngitis / laryngoepiglottitis
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Case reports | Gross description | Microscopic (histologic) description | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Pernick N. Laryngitis / laryngoepiglottitis. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/larynxacutelaryngoep.html. Accessed September 26th, 2023.
Definition / general
Acute laryngoepiglottitis
Chronic (nonspecific) laryngitis
Histoplasmosis
- Also called acute supraglottitis
- Rare; due to Haemophilus influenza type B or Streptococcus pyogenes; reduced incidence due to childhood vaccine for H. influenza
- May produce sudden lethal swelling of epiglottis and vocal cords
- Croup: laryngotracheobronchitis in children; inflammatory narrowing produces inspiratory stridor
Chronic (nonspecific) laryngitis
- Commonly due to upper respiratory tract infection, overuse of voice, heavy exposure to tobacco smoke or alcohol
Histoplasmosis
- Common cause of fungal laryngitis in U.S. (also blastomycosis)
- Early lesions are in vocal cords and epiglottis
- Granulomatous lesion involving anterior larynx is likely to be histoplasmosis
Case reports
Chronic (nonspecific) laryngitis
Histoplasmosis
- CMV laryngitis and probable lymphoma in AIDS patient (Arch Pathol Lab Med 1992;116:539)
Histoplasmosis
- 78 year old man with epiglottic mass in nonendemic region (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2004;128:574)
Gross description
Acute laryngoepiglottitis
- Red and edematous epiglottis
Microscopic (histologic) description
Acute laryngoepiglottitis
Chronic (nonspecific) laryngitis
- Acute inflammatory infiltrate with edema, extending to adjacent soft tissues
Chronic (nonspecific) laryngitis
- Lymphocytic infiltrate with variable plasma cells and histiocytes
- Variable epithelial hyperplasia
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Acute laryngoepiglottitis: H. influenza (site unknown)
