Laryngeal involvement in pemphigus vulgaris: a proposed classification

Objective: (1) To investigate the incidence of laryngeal involvement in a large series of patients with pemphigus vulgaris, using endoscopic examination, (2) to describe the lesions, and (3) to establish a classification of laryngeal involvement in pemphigus vulgaris based on the location of the lesions. Study design: Prospective study. Methods: A total of 40 sequentially treated pemphigus vulgaris patients, diagnosed using clinical, histological and immunofluorescence criteria, were evaluated for laryngeal manifestations using endoscopic examination. The results were used to establish a graded classification of laryngeal involvement according to the location of the lesions. Results: Active laryngeal lesions (ulcers or blisters) were found in 16 patients (40 per cent). Of these, 37.5 per cent were classified as grade I, 20 per cent as grade II, 20 per cent as grade III and 17.5 per cent as grade IV. Conclusion: Laryngeal involvement is common in pemphigus vulgaris and must be considered at the point of diagnosis. Grade I lesions are the most frequent.     

Laryngeal lesions in mucosal dominant subtype of pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare autoimmune bullous disease of the skin that almost always produces mucosal manifestations. PV should be considered in differential diagnosis whenever there is a history of multiple, chronic, nonhealing erosions that begin as blisters. Direct immunofluorescence of perilesional skin/mucosa remains the most valuable diagnostic procedure. The fact that blisters or more often erosions on the mucosa of upper respiratory and digestive tracts are frequently the first manifestation of the disease implies that ENT physicians have to familiarize themselves with the clinical manifestations of PV to ensure early diagnosis and proper treatment.     

Laryngeal cancer in men and occupation. A comparison with male patients with stomach cancer]

A statistical comparison of the professions of 1119 male patients with malignant laryngeal tumours and the profession of 708 male patients with malignant tumours of stomach, shows the influence of occupational exposures. The quantity of malignant laryngeal tumours is high in the group of steelworks- and foundry workers, workers in the glass-, porcelain-, quartz- and chemical industry and motorists. The inhalation of exogenous cancer-poisons are the probable cause.     

喉功能保留的梨状窝癌外科治疗

目的 评价喉功能保留梨状窝癌的手术治疗效果。方法 回顾性分析了１９７４～１９９４年６月我院初治的４４例经保留喉功能手术治疗的梨状窝癌病例,其中Ｔ１１０例Ｔ２１８例,Ｔ４２例。２例术后放射治疗,４２例术前放射治疗,原发灶术式包括：３６例梨状窝切除术;８例喉及下咽部分切除术。结果 ４４例５年生存率为５０％,Ｉ期为８０％,Ⅱ期为７１．４３％,Ⅲ期为５２．９％,Ⅳ期为２６．７％,总的局部控制率为８１．８％     

Laryngeal cancer and occupation--results of the Heidelberg laryngeal cancer study]

We conducted a case-control study of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx referred to occupational factors in 164 patients compared with 656 controls adjusted for sex, age and area of residence, using a 1-to-4 matched design. Most of the cancer patients (92%) were blue collar workers. Only 8% of the cancer patients had attended technical college, college or university, compared with 31.3% of the control subjects. After adjustment for alcohol and tobacco consumption we found an increased relative risk of laryngeal cancer in subjects chronically exposed to cement dust, pine wood dust and coal-tar products. The risk associated with cement dust and coal-tar products was predominantly related to supraglottic cancer (RR = 1.88, CI = 0.8-4.3, RR = 6.11, CI = 1.7-21.6), respectively, after adjustment for tobacco and alcohol use. The risk associated with pine wood dust was related predominantly to glottic cancer (RR = 3.18, CI = 1.1-9.0) after adjustment for tobacco and alcohol use.     

Laryngeal carcinoma with laryngeal abscess]

We had encountered 5 cases of laryngeal carcinoma associated with abscess. Four of them were advanced laryngeal cancer with abscess induced by mechanical injury, and one with post-radiation laryngeal perichondritis & abscess formation. Management included total laryngectomy in 3 patients, partial laryngectomy in 1 patient, and resection of post-radiation abscess in one. Laryngeal abscesses are seen rarely today. Endeavour should be made to decrease such complication. The authors had presented their experience in the management of laryngeal carcinoma associated with laryngeal abscess, together with a review of the history and some of the current ideas about this problem.     

Laryngeal cancer following gunshot injury and paraffin injection]

Subcutaneous and submucosal injections of paraffin were a wide-spread technique in plastic and reconstructive surgery during the early decades of this century. Intralaryngeal injections were applied to patients suffering from paralysis of one vocal cord or a defect resulting from perforating trauma, intending improvement of the voice. This method was widely abandoned within the fifties when severe complications like foreign-body granuloma and carcinoma developed in patients undergoing paraffin injections. The development of cancer after a trauma is a common question in expert reports. We report the case of a patient who developed carcinoma of the vocal cord 49 years after perforation of the larynx by a shot with consecutive injection of paraffin. The relationship between trauma, injections of paraffin and cancer is discussed and consequences on diagnostics and treatment of risk patients are outlined.     

Laryngeal infection by Rhodococcus equi in patient with AIDS

The Rhodococcus equi is an aerobic gram positive pleomorphic bacillus, that was isolated for the first time like a producer of bronchopneumonia in young horses. Every time more often, it is being recognized as a pathogen in humans, mainly in the immunodepressed population. We described a case, until now exceptional, of laryngeal infection by Rhodococcus equi in a patient with positive serology for the virus of the human immunodeficiency (HIV), and we reviewed some clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the infections by this germ. The treatment is riphampicine and/or erythromycin, being the prognosis bad, because usually they are immunodepressed patients.     

Changes of laryngeal mucosa in the course of pemphigus vulgaris

Blister diseases are chronic autoimmune reactions connected with formation of intraepithelial blisters. Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) change is appear most often, almost 80% of all cases. Erosions on mucosa appear as first symptoms at 50-70% patients. Blisters occurring on the skin are typical for this illness and usually come into with weeks or months with delay in relation to the changes on mucous membranes. In this work we have described character and location of changes on mucous membranes at 5 patients with PV, diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and confirmed in immunofluorescent investigations.     

Laryngeal carcinoma in a non-smoker female patient with thyroid carcinoma: report of a case

Laryngeal carcinoma is usually encountered in smoker men, and thyroid carcinoma is sometimes discovered incidentally during treatment for these patients. However, this coexistence of malignancies could occur in non-smoker female. We report an unusual case of multiple primary malignancies in the larynx and the thyroid gland. The laryngeal carcinoma was suspected to be related to the malignant transformation of the papillomas. The case suggests the importance of meticulous examination in the head and neck region for treatment of cervical metastatic lymph nodes with negative cytology in non-smoker female.     

Laryngeal sarcoidosis: apropos of a case]

The authors report an unusual case of laryngeal sarcoidosis. After having explained it, they describe the elements of diagnosis about this rarely isolated pathology, its complications and treatment as well.     

Coexistence of pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid in the upper aerodigestive tract

Pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid are autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin and the mucosa characterized by circulating autoantibodies. Coexistence of these lesions is extremely uncommon. We report herein a case of both pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid which occurred in the upper aerodigestive tract. The diagnosis was made based on the circulating autoantibodies and direct immunofluorescent studies. The literature on this subject is reviewed.