• A 39-year-old man was examined for a severe speech impediment that was first noted in early childhood. Otolaryngologic examination demonstrated a membranous structure confluent from anterior pillar to anterior pillar and from the soft palate to the base of the tongue. A review of the literature reveals this to be a persistent pharyngeal membrane, which is a rare congenital anomaly.
(Arch Otolaryngol 105:286-287, 1979)