Chondrosarcoma of the larynx: a therapeutic challenge.
The diagnosis of laryngeal chondrosarcoma is likely to be missed because of its infrequent occurrence and its indolent pattern of growth. A 53-year-old woman came to our service with an 18-year history of hoarseness and increasing dyspnea. She had been previously documented as having left vocal fold paralysis and a bulging laryngeal mass. Computed tomography revealed the presence of a large calcified tumor that had caused a deformity of the larynx and an erosion of the arytenoid and cricoid cartilages. Direct laryngoscopy detected a large supraglottic mass with a normal-appearing mucosa. Total excision of the tumor was achieved through a lateral neck incision that spared the larynx. This case emphasizes the importance of a high index of suspicion for laryngeal chondrosarcoma in a patient who has unexplained vocal fold paralysis and a submucosal subglottic mass. Every effort should be made to take a conservative surgical approach that preserves laryngeal function when possible.
Shinhar
S
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. shinhar1@yahoo.com
Zik
D
D
Issakov
J
J
Rappaport
Y
Y
D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014139:Tracheostomy / Q000379:methods