Vallecular Cysts

Also known as: base of tongue cysts, epiglottic mucus retention cysts.

What are vallecular cysts?

Vallecular cysts are pockets of infection that develop at the base of the tongue. They are often present at birth but tend to grow worse over time.

What causes vallecular cysts?

The exact cause of vallecular cysts isn’t entirely clear. They may occur due to a blocked salivary gland or be related to other types of cysts such as thyroglossal duct cysts.

What are the symptoms of vallecular cysts?

Vallecular cysts can cause symptoms such as noisy breathing (stridor), difficulty feeding and trouble breathing.

What are vallecular cysts care options?

If the vallecular cysts is causing symptoms, the typical treatment is to decompress the cyst surgically.


Reviewed by: Brian Ho, MD

This page was last updated on: October 03, 2019 04:22 PM