Coexisting Congenital Subglosso-palatal Membrane and Tongue Dermoid in a Neonate

BACKGROUND

Neonatal respiratory distress due to coexisting subglosso-palatal membrane and tongue dermoid has not been reported yet.

CASE CHARACTERISTICS

A newborn with respiratory distress having a membrane in the oral cavity. Excision of membrane revealed a tongue mass with cleft palate, obstructing the nasopharynx completely. Elective ventilation was followed by excision of mass.

OUTCOME

The child was cured with uneventful course at follow-up of six months.

MESSAGE

Co-existing congenital anomalies causing airway obstruction may be missed in presence of subglosso-palatal membrane.

Subglosso-palatal membrane a rare cause of neonatal respiratory distress: A case report

Subglosso-palatal membrane is a rare cause of acute respiratory distress in newborn. Contrary to the earlier reported cases in which immediate splitting or excision of membrane has been described as measure to relief respiratory distress, we managed our case successfully without any emergency surgical procedure.