[Dyspnea caused by leiomyomatous tumor of the oropharynx].
BACKGROUND
Leiomyoma and Leiomyosarkoma are not often found in ENT-diseases.


METHODS
We report on a 62-year old female patient presenting with a 3 x 4 cm tumor in the oropharynx that had developed within a period of about three weeks. The patient complained of increasing dysphagia and dyspnea especially when lying on the left side. To secure breathing the patient had to be primarily ventilated by placing a needle percutaneously through the conical ligament and was then intubated. For this procedure the patient was positioned on the right side. The tumor measuring 3 cm, was removed surgically.


RESULTS
The tumor turned out to be a leiomyomatous neoplasia of undetermined malignant potential. Since an unfavourable behaviour of such neoplasms cannot be excluded, patients with tumors of this type should be followed closely.


CONCLUSIONS
In this case the tumor leads to an acute dyspnoea and a special procedure of anesthesia was necessary. Therapeutic considerations and differential diagnosis of this very rare tumor of the oropharynx are discussed by reviewing the literature.
Pauli
C
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenkranke, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Klinikum Grosshadern. cpauli@hno.med.uni-muenchen.de
Diebold
J
J
Ledderose
H
H
Wollenberg
B
B
D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors