Omega epiglottis

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 7 Jan 2021

The omega epiglottis is a variant configuration of the normal epiglottis in which the lateral folds are curled inwards. The configuration is not necessarily pathologic but has been associated with higher rates of laryngomalacia 3

Differential diagnosis

When seen on a lateral neck radiograph, an omega epiglottis can appear prominent, mimicking the epiglottic thickening seen in epiglottitis 1,4, and all causes of epiglottic enlargement in general. Thus, this anatomic variant represents a potential pitfall in evaluating neck radiographs.

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