Afull term male neonate presented with stridor and respiratory distress minutes after birth. Life saving intubation was achieved by the attending paediatrician who noted a mass at the base of the tongue. Microlaryngoscopy under general anaesthesia confirmed the congenital epiglottic cyst (fig 1) which was curatively excised.

Figure 1

Endoscopic view of an epiglottic cyst at suspension laryngoscopy with endotracheal tube in situ. 1, Epiglottic cyst; 2, epiglottis; 3, tongue base displaced to the right side by the laryngoscope.