Airway management: Utilizing radiologist expertise and neuroimaging with head and neck masses

Securing the airway in a patient with a head and neck mass is often challenging [1,2]. The location, size, and character of the mass can impede the anesthesiologist from safely extending the neck, opening the mouth, or placing airway devices such as an oral airway, LMA, or laryngoscope blade. Masses involving the larynx present an additional challenge of potential airway obstruction [2,3]. These cases can present with workup limited to labs and radiology imaging. In the absence of fiberoptic endoscopy or indirect laryngoscopy, imaging may be the only available map of the patient's airway.

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