A 23-year-old man develops painful swallowing and hoarseness after inhaling recreational Nitrous oxide. Explore the surprising cause of his oral injuries.
A 23-year-old man presented to an outpatient health center with a 2-day history of painful swallowing and hoarseness. The symptoms developed after he had inhaled nitrous oxide through his mouth from a hand-held canister for recreation. Physical examination was notable for erythema, swelling, and sloughing of the mucosa on the soft palate, uvula, and posterior oropharynx. There was no increased work of breathing or stridor. Flexible nasolaryngoscopy revealed a small area of ulceration and swelling on the right vocal fold. What is the most likely diagnosis?
