Laryngeal Clefts: Past, Present and Future Considerations

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Location: 408B

Moderator(s)

NB

Nancy M. Bauman, MD

Professor
Children's National Hospital, George Washington University of Health Sciences
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Panelist(s)

Diego A. Preciado, MD, PhD

Division Chief
Children's National Department of Otolaryngology
Washington, DC, United States
KJ

Kaalan E. Johnson, MD

Associate Professor
Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington
Seattle, WA, United States
Reza Rahbar, MD

Professor; Associate Otolaryngologist-in-Chief
Boston Children's Hospital, United States

Join this panel of experienced pediatric otolaryngologists for a lively discussion of their approach to evaluating and managing the interarytenoid area. Is there truly an anatomic "cleft" or is it supraglottic dysfunction?
We will review...
- normal interarytenoid anatomy and its physiologic role in swallow.
- proposal of the term “interarytenoid dysfunction” (IAD) emphasizing the functional contribution of the interarytenoid region to airway protection rather than its subjective and often indeterminate anatomic contour.
- the panelists' diagnostic strategies and management options and outcome studies for confirmed and suspected anomalies of the interarytenoid area.

The laryngeal cleft saga continues....

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participant will understand the nuances of assessing the interarytenoid area for laryngeal cleft and learn of new terminology based on function rather than anatomic descriptors
Upon completion, participant will understand diagnostic approaches of assessing the interarytenoid region
Upon completion, participant will understand management options of the interarytenoid area