ABSTRACT
The exact incidence of congenital abnormalities of the airway is uncertain, but a figure has been quoted for congenital laryngeal anomalies of between 1 : 10 000 and 1 : 50 000 births. Laryngeal cysts are rare, can be congenital or acquired and may present with respiratory obstruction in infants and young children. Vascular malformations are rare in the larynx, trachea and bronchi. Bifid epiglottis is a rare laryngeal anomaly in which the epiglottis fails to fuse in the midline and thus has a cleft extending down to its tubercle. Subglottic stenosis is said to be the third most common congenital anomaly of the larynx, but its true incidence is hard to determine because many patients are intubated in the neonatal period and are then considered by definition to have an acquired stenosis. Children with congenital tracheal stenosis usually present with respiratory distress within the first year of life.
