title: Small cell carcinoma of the larynx: imaging findings.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Institute of Cancer Research, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, South Korea.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed