Severe Snoring in a Young Healthy Female: A Diagnostic Surprise

Laryngeal Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors or plasma cell granulomas are unusual benign lesions. Subglottic laryngeal lesions of various benign and malignant types usually present with acute or chronic stridor and respiratory obstruction features. We describe the first case in the literature where severe snoring was the presenting complaint in a patient of subglottic mass lesion with comfortable breathing during wake hour. A 28 years old female presented with loud snoring and apneic episodes during sleep for three years which showed severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) (AHI, Apnoea- Hypoapnoea Index: 46.5) in polysomnography (PSG) and surprisingly smooth mucosa covered subglottic mass blocking 75% of airway lumen in the laryngoscopic examination. The patient underwent tracheostomy and coblation assisted endoscopic excision, and subsequent histopathology revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour. She was later decannulated and with no features of sleep apnea post decannulation. Subglottic mass can rarely present with severe snoring and requires solid clinical suspicion for early diagnosis. Hence, subglottic lesion should be one of the differentials for atypical presentations of severe OSA.