Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristic of acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in adults. METHODS: The clinical and radiographic findings in 27 adult patients with epiglottitis (average age, 43 years; range, 28 to 81 years) were compared with those of a control group of asymptomatic subjects (n = 15; average age, 48 years; range, 24 to 79 years). Unusual clinical aspects in the current series included two patients who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus, 1 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma, 3 with emphysematous epiglottitis, 1 with abscess formation, and 1 with laryngeal carcinoma. One patient required emergency tracheostomy. One patient died of pneumonia. RESULTS: The ratio of the soft-tissue parameters to the anteroposterior width of the C-4 vertebral body yielded three key parameters of high statistical significance in adult epiglottitis. The ratio of the width of the epiglottis to the anteroposterior width of C-4 should not be greater than 0.33 (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 100%). The ratio of the prevertebral soft tissue to C-4 should not exceed 0.5 (sensitivity, 37%; specificity, 100%) and the ratio of the width of the hypopharyngeal airway to the width of C-4 should be less than 1.5 (sensitivity, 44%; specificity, 87%). The aryepiglottic folds were enlarged in 85%, and the arytenoids were swollen in 70% of the patient population (specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: These defined radiologic parameters should aid in the diagnosis of acute epiglottitis in adults.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 495-502 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | American Journal of Neuroradiology |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - 1995 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Larynx, epiglottis
- Neck, inflammation
- Neck, radiography
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
Cite this
A reappraisal of the radiologic findings of acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in adults. / Nemzek, W. R.; Katzberg, Richard W; Van Slyke, M. A.; Bickley, L. S.
In: American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol. 16, No. 3, 1995, p. 495-502.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A reappraisal of the radiologic findings of acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in adults
AU - Nemzek, W. R.
AU - Katzberg, Richard W
AU - Van Slyke, M. A.
AU - Bickley, L. S.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristic of acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in adults. METHODS: The clinical and radiographic findings in 27 adult patients with epiglottitis (average age, 43 years; range, 28 to 81 years) were compared with those of a control group of asymptomatic subjects (n = 15; average age, 48 years; range, 24 to 79 years). Unusual clinical aspects in the current series included two patients who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus, 1 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma, 3 with emphysematous epiglottitis, 1 with abscess formation, and 1 with laryngeal carcinoma. One patient required emergency tracheostomy. One patient died of pneumonia. RESULTS: The ratio of the soft-tissue parameters to the anteroposterior width of the C-4 vertebral body yielded three key parameters of high statistical significance in adult epiglottitis. The ratio of the width of the epiglottis to the anteroposterior width of C-4 should not be greater than 0.33 (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 100%). The ratio of the prevertebral soft tissue to C-4 should not exceed 0.5 (sensitivity, 37%; specificity, 100%) and the ratio of the width of the hypopharyngeal airway to the width of C-4 should be less than 1.5 (sensitivity, 44%; specificity, 87%). The aryepiglottic folds were enlarged in 85%, and the arytenoids were swollen in 70% of the patient population (specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: These defined radiologic parameters should aid in the diagnosis of acute epiglottitis in adults.
AB - PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic characteristic of acute inflammation of the epiglottis and supraglottic structures in adults. METHODS: The clinical and radiographic findings in 27 adult patients with epiglottitis (average age, 43 years; range, 28 to 81 years) were compared with those of a control group of asymptomatic subjects (n = 15; average age, 48 years; range, 24 to 79 years). Unusual clinical aspects in the current series included two patients who were positive for human immunodeficiency virus, 1 with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma, 3 with emphysematous epiglottitis, 1 with abscess formation, and 1 with laryngeal carcinoma. One patient required emergency tracheostomy. One patient died of pneumonia. RESULTS: The ratio of the soft-tissue parameters to the anteroposterior width of the C-4 vertebral body yielded three key parameters of high statistical significance in adult epiglottitis. The ratio of the width of the epiglottis to the anteroposterior width of C-4 should not be greater than 0.33 (sensitivity, 96%; specificity, 100%). The ratio of the prevertebral soft tissue to C-4 should not exceed 0.5 (sensitivity, 37%; specificity, 100%) and the ratio of the width of the hypopharyngeal airway to the width of C-4 should be less than 1.5 (sensitivity, 44%; specificity, 87%). The aryepiglottic folds were enlarged in 85%, and the arytenoids were swollen in 70% of the patient population (specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: These defined radiologic parameters should aid in the diagnosis of acute epiglottitis in adults.
KW - Larynx, epiglottis
KW - Neck, inflammation
KW - Neck, radiography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028930663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0028930663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 7793372
AN - SCOPUS:0028930663
VL - 16
SP - 495
EP - 502
JO - American Journal of Neuroradiology
JF - American Journal of Neuroradiology
SN - 0195-6108
IS - 3
ER -