Overview
Benign neoplasms of the cricoid cartilage are rare and typically present with airway compromise, often following significant trauma. However, spontaneous fractures without antecedent trauma can also occur, mimicking other respiratory conditions like asthma. 1Diagnosis
Clinical Presentation: Intermittent dyspnea, stridor, and subglottic narrowing.
Exclusionary Tests: Laryngoscopy to rule out vocal cord dysfunction.
Imaging: CT of the neck to identify cricoid cartilage abnormalities and airway narrowing. 1Management
Initial Stabilization: Oral intubation during acute episodes; tracheostomy for persistent airway compromise. 1
Surgical Intervention: Tracheostomy for long-term airway management in severe cases. 1
Supportive Care: Management of symptoms with bronchodilators if misdiagnosed initially (e.g., asthma treatment). 1Special Populations
Elderly: Increased risk of delayed diagnosis due to atypical presentation without trauma history. 1Key Recommendations
Perform CT imaging of the neck in patients with unexplained intermittent dyspnea and suspected airway obstruction to identify cricoid cartilage abnormalities. (Evidence: Moderate) 1
Consider tracheostomy for definitive airway management in cases where cricoid cartilage fracture leads to persistent subglottic narrowing. (Evidence: Weak) 1
Rule out other causes of dyspnea through laryngoscopy and other relevant diagnostic evaluations before attributing symptoms to cricoid cartilage pathology. (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1References
1 Matsuo Y, Yamada T, Hiraoka E. Unique presentation of cricoid cartilage fracture causing intermittent dyspnea without preceding trauma. Nagoya journal of medical science 2019. link