Spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx with a verrucous carcinoma component: combined carcinoma of larynx

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common neoplasm of the larynx. There are three variants of SCC. Each variant presents distinctive biologic behaviors and clinical courses. Therefore reaching the exact diagnosis and distinguishing the variants is fateful. We describe a case of spindle cell carcinoma of the larynx with a verrucous carcinoma component. To our knowledge, this entity has never been documented before.     

Verrucous squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations

The clinical findings, histopathology, management and outcome of 31 patients with verrucous squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx (VSCC) are discussed. Laryngeal VSCC is a rare, highly differentiated variant of SCC and has specific morphological features and clinical behavior. A close liaison between the laryngologist and pathologist is needed to formulate a correct diagnosis, because this tumor appears to be malignant clinically and histologically benign. A low-power magnification of multiple large specimens, including the deep margins of the lesion, is required in order to differentiate VSCC from keratosis, verruca vulgaris or SCC with verrucous appearance, and to detect underlying microscopic foci of invasive SCC within or adjacent to a verrucous carcinoma. Long-lasting hoarseness was the most common symptom as the glottic region was the most common site of VSCC. Presumed clinically positive N1 lymph nodes were observed in the necks of 7 patients, but none had metastatic disease on histopathological study. Surgery alone was the most effective form of treatment, as it allowed a good outcome of all treated patients. Surgery plus radiotherapy was associated with an early recurrence and a poor outcome in 2 of 7 patients treated. The generally benign behavior of VSCC allows for conservative surgery, with complete endoscopic resection using the carbon dioxide laser representing a more conservative surgical approach. Neck dissection is not indicated due to the non-metastatic behavior of this tumor.     

Clinical and histopathological considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of verrucous carcinoma of the larynx

Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx is quite distinct from well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma has a characteristic morphology and specific clinical behavior. It accounts for approximately 1%-2% of all laryngeal carcinomas. However, difficulties are encountered clinically in separating verrucous carcinomas from keratoses, verruca vulgaris and squamous cell carcinomas with a verrucous appearance. Between 1962 and 1982, 1504 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx were diagnosed and treated by staff physicians in the Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis. Fifteen of these patients (1%) had verrucous carcinomas. These cases were studied in order to clarify any diagnostic problems, trace the biologic behavior of the tumors and report the results of the treatment used. Of these 15 patients, we were able to follow up 8. The latter had been treated only with surgery and none of them had received radiotherapy. One death occurred, but the patient died of other causes and remained free of cancer. Reports in the literature describe a high rate of recurrence of verrucous carcinomas following radiotherapy with occasional anaplastic transformation of tumors. No patients in our series developed a metastasis in the neck, indicating that neck dissection is not justified for patients with these neoplasms even though clinically enlarged neck nodes may be present.     

Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx

Summary Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx in a middle-aged male patient is reported. The related diagnostic problems are described in detail and clinical and morphological differentiating features from other variants of squamous cell carcinoma are outlined on the basis of literary data and our own experience.     

Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx — a misnomer

Summary A serie of our observations of so-called verrucous carcinomas of the larynx show that these peculiar lesions do not develop true infiltrating growths or metastases, and do not fulfill the criteria of a true carcinoma. Our experiences indicate that these cases can be treated successfully by repeated endoscopic resections. We have found that no aggressive radical treatment — either by surgery or irradiation — is necessary in managing these lesions. Although the etiology of Ackerman's tumor of the larynx is still uncertain, we suggest that the lesions develop as the result of a virus infection and propose again the term verrucous acanthosis instead of verrucous carcinoma for this disease.Presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, San Antonio, Texas, September 1986     

Small cell carcinoma of the larynx: imaging findings

Small cell carcinoma of the larynx is an uncommon epithelial tumor, which is the most aggressive subtype of neuroendocrine carcinomas. Because of its nonspecific clinical and radiological manifestations, the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the larynx is essentially based on the light microscopic examination aided by electron microscopy or immunohistochemical staining. We report a case of supraglottic small cell carcinoma accompanied by large bilateral cervical lymph node metastasis ocurring in a 70-year-old man. On CT scans, no area of low attenuation indicating necrosis was demonstrated within such large metastatic lymph nodes. We suggest that small cell carcinoma of the larynx should be included in the diagnostic considerations when a laryngeal mass is accompanied by large cervical lymph nodes without necrosis shown by CT.     

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx presenting as a primary unknown carcinoma

Objective

The case of an 80-year-old man showing a metastatic cervical small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is presented.

Results

The primary site could not be found at first; it took 8–10 months to detect the primary lesion in the larynx.

Conclusion

¹⁸F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) was useful to find the submucosal lesion. Despite surgical treatments and chemotherapy, the patient survived for only 21 months.     

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma is a variant of squamous cell carcinoma that was first described in 1986. In the English-language literature, only 26 cases of this infrequent histopathological entity have been reported in the larynx. Tumors have an aggressive biological behavior, justifying combined surgical treatment with radiotherapy. Two new cases are presented and the literature reviewed.     

喉疣状癌的诊断与治疗(3例报告及文献复习)

目的 探讨喉疣状癌的诊断与治疗。方法对 3例喉疣状癌的临床、病理、诊断、治疗及预后进行回顾性分析。结果 3例喉疣状癌患者均为男性, 年龄 51 ~59岁, 平均年龄 56岁。喉疣状癌诊断较困难, 应反复多次活检才能确诊。其中 1例先后进行两次手术、1次放疗,终因肿瘤复发、组织间变、淋巴转移、肺感染、吞咽梗阻致全身衰竭死亡。2例行喉垂直部分切除术, 随访 5 ~6年无复发。结论　喉疣状癌容易误诊, 追踪观察肿瘤生长方式、外观形态和病理学检查可确诊。喉疣状癌以手术治疗为主, 切除力求彻底, 手术方式首选喉垂直部分切除术。放射治疗不敏感。     

Differential diagnosis of verrucous carcinoma in the oral cavity and larynx

Two cases of local metastasing verrucous carcinoma (oral cavity and larynx) are presented. Difficulties in the histological diagnosis are demonstrated. Histological criteria of verrucous carcinoma are discussed in comparison to leucoplakia, papilloma, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, verrucous hyperplasia, and highly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (grade 1). The importance of correct diagnosis for further diagnostic and therapeutic procedures is pointed out.     

Minimally invasive surgery for recurrent neuroendocrine carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx

Calcitonin-secreting neuroendocrine carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx are infrequent tumors, making it difficult to agree on treatment plans for recurrent tumors. Furthermore, this rare malignancy is often confused with the more common medullary thyroid carcinoma, resulting in inappropriate thyroidectomies. We present a case report of a calcitonin-secreting recurrent neuroendocrine carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx, in which surgery and pentagastrin stimulation were performed repeatedly at various stages of the disease. The recurrent laryngeal tumor was ultimately identified and, after construction of a protective tracheostomy, resected transorally en bloc with the underlying arytenoid cartilage. Postoperatively, the patient did well and stimulated calcitonin levels never exceeded double baseline values. Laryngoscopic removal of smaller laryngeal carcinomas is both technically feasible and safe, even when tumors are recurrent. In calcitonin-secreting malignancies, pentagastrin stimulation may facilitate the distinction between laryngeal and medullary thyroid carcinoma and thus help avoid unnecessary thyroidectomies. Received: 17 August 1998 / Accepted: 24 November 1998     

Management of verrucous carcinoma of the larynx

Eight patients with a verrucous carcinoma of the larynx have been seen at the Charing Cross Hospital between 1970 and 1985. Seven patients were treated by primary radiotherapy and one by primary endoscopic laser excision. Four of those treated with radiotherapy developed recurrent disease which was treated by radical surgery in three and by endoscopic laser excision in one. The place of radiotherapy in the management of this condition requires further evaluation in view of the high rate of recurrence. Endoscopic laser excision may be a reasonable alternative to more radical surgery in this highly differentiated neoplasm.     

分化型甲状腺癌侵犯喉气管临床分析

目的　探讨甲状腺癌累及喉、气管时的外科处理方法。方法　2000年1月～2010年12月在我院手术治疗晚期分化型甲状腺癌24例,根据肿瘤侵犯喉、颈段气管的范围及程度分别行肿瘤削除术和气管袖状切除端端吻合术;喉部分切除胸锁乳突肌或颈阔肌皮瓣修复术。结果　24例患者均接受根治性手术切除,喉、气管缺损修复重建。术式：肿瘤削除术8例,气管袖状切除8例,喉部分切除术8例。吻合方式：气管端端吻合8例,胸锁乳突肌皮瓣修复4例,颈阔肌皮瓣修复4例。本组患者肿瘤复发率为8.3%,5年累积生存率为91.6%。结论　对侵犯喉、气管的分化型甲状腺癌患者应采取更为积极的外科治疗,以减少术后复发,提高生存率。     

Establishment of carcinoma cell lines from larynx and submandibular gland

Summary For many techniques in the oncology of head and neck tumors large amounts of pure tumor cells are required.Although larynx and salivary gland tumors are common in man, no report exists on isolation and purification of tumor cells of which malignancy was proved.The present paper describes in vitro cultivation of living human malignant tumor cells from a larynx and a submandibular gland carcinoma. Carcinoma cells were freed from all non-tumor cells and cloned thus indicating that cultures contained only a single cell type. Transplantation of grown cells s.c. into athymic (nu/nu) mice induced rapidly growing tumors of which malignancy was demonstrated by histology.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. L. Seiferth on the occasion of his 80th birthday     

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the larynx associated with necrotizing sialometaplasia—A diagnostic challenge

Necrotizing sialometaplasia is a benign, self-limiting, inflammatory process involving salivary glands, commonly associated with tissue ischemia. Clinically, necrotizing sialometaplasia is most often found in the hard palate as a deep ulcer with raised, indurated edges that can be indolent. This, as well as the histopathologic findings of necrotizing sialometaplasia, can be confused with those of a malignant neoplasm. We report a rare case of necrotizing sialometaplasia in the larynx, probably initiated by an underlying malignant process. We suggest an aggressive diagnostic approach, when necrotizing sialometaplasia involves the larynx and no recent exposure to radiation, surgery or trauma has been recorded. Necrotizing sialometaplasia of the larynx should be regarded as secondary to malignancy until proven otherwise.     

累及喉气管的晚期甲状腺癌一期手术整复

目的：探讨晚期甲状腺癌累及喉、气管时的一期手术整复方法。方法：对18例存在喉气管受累的晚期甲状腺癌患者进行一期肿瘤全切及喉气管整复，其中7例喉受累患者全喉切除3例，喉部分切除4例；18例颈段气管受累患者中，8例直接切除肿瘤，10例切除受累气管壁后，修复方法包括：拉扰缝合1例，端端吻合3例、带蒂胸锁乳突肌骨膜瓣2例、岛状胸大肌肌皮瓣3例和颈部皮瓣1例。结果：住院期间肿瘤复发死亡1例。除3例全喉切除患者外，14例成功保留喉功能，其中拔除气管套管8例，堵管2例，继续带管4例。结论：对于累及喉气管的晚期甲状腺癌采用一期手术切除并整复不仅切实可行，而且可以提高此类患者的治愈机会，改善生活质量。     

喉角化症的综合治疗

目的 探讨治疗喉角化郑的有效方法。方法 对30例患者进行综合治疗,主要是在抗角化治疗的同时配合以辅助药物、局部湿化,去除病因,部分病例辅以手术治疗。结果 随访1～5年,25例(83.3%)的病变在综合治疗后消失,2例复发,2例因癌变而分别行放疗和手术治疗,1例仍有镜下角化。结论 对喉角化症行以抗角化治疗为主的综合治疗方法具有方便易行、疗效确切、 无创伤等优点。