A high-rising epiglottis: a benign anatomical variant.

We report an asymptomatic 10-year-old boy who was found to have a high-rising epiglottis visible in his pharynx. This benign anatomical variant is not widely recognized yet may cause anxiety to patients and their families. The prevalence of this finding is controversial, and it is uncertain whether it reflects an abnormal position, size, and/or shape of the epiglottis. It is probably more common in children, which is to be expected considering the normal descent of the larynx with postnatal growth. To date, the condition has not been associated with any significant clinical sequelae.