Persistent Idiopathic Supraglottic Edema in a Young Woman: A Case Report

A 35-year-old woman presented to the hospital with symptoms of throat pain, difficulty swallowing, dyspnea, and hoarseness. The complaints had started following a simple common cold. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed profound and diffuse swelling of the epiglottis and the arytenoids. Progressive swelling might block the airway and lead to difficulty breathing and death. The patient was treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics, intravenous corticosteroid taper, and adrenaline inhalation. The clinical finding of a swollen supraglottic area persisted. Upon review of the patient’s medical history, it was noticed that the laryngeal edema had been identified in the past as well. In this case report, the medical findings, the differential diagnosis, and the possible medical examinations when encountering a patient with chronic laryngeal swelling are discussed.