Cricoid Abscess: Case Presentation, Management and Literature Review

REPORTgraft (CABG) in 2011, multiple percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), congestive heart failure (CHF), and diabetes mellitus, who required intubation in June 2022 for pulmonary edema.After his hospitalization in June 2022, he reported new-onset hoarseness.The patient was then evaluated in an outpatient Otolaryngology clinic in July 2022 and was diagnosed with a left true vocal fold paralysis.The patient underwent computed tomography (CT) neck revealing air and a fluid-filled mass at the level of the larynx concerning for a necrotic neoplasm.After a period of observation, the patient was taken to the operating room (OR) for direct laryngoscopy and biopsy in November 2022.Pathology was consistent with acute inflammation, granulation, and one biopsy showed moderate grade dysplasia.Following the biopsy, IntroductIonCricoid abscess is a rare form of deep neck space infection consisting of a purulent collection within or surrounding the cricoid cartilage.The cricoid cartilage is composed of a cartilaginous ring that structurally supports the subglottic airway.Infection at this location may lead to local destruction, dysphonia, dysphagia, and airway obstruction if not promptly diagnosed and treated.Postintubation acute laryngeal complications affect up to 83% of critically ill patients that require mechanical ventilation. 1 The clinical presentation of a cricoid abscess lacks distinguishing features, often mimicking postextubation granuloma formation or laryngotracheal stenosis; clinical symptoms include hoarseness, pharyngitis, dysphagia, and dyspnea.Cricoid abscess can progress to stridor, airway compromise, and destruction of local anatomy, potentially resulting in posterior glottic stenosis, cricoarytenoid joint fixation, permanent tracheostomy, or even laryngectomy. [2]][4] There have been few documented cases of cricoid abscess in the literature, representing a rare clinical entity with diagnostic and treatment challenges.To date, there are only five reported cases.Due to the paucity of data, we aim to consolidate the clinical narrative and nature of cricoid abscesses.In this article, a rare case of cricoid cartilage abscess is described in detail, including the diagnosis, management, and recovery, along with a comprehensive review of the literature to bring awareness to assist clinicians. case descrIptIonOur patient is a 53-year-old male, former smoker, with past medical history significant for myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass