title: Basosquamous carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx with sudden death from asphyxia.
abstract: Excluding laryngeal papillomas, neoplasms of the hypopharynx rarely cause sudden asphyxial death in adults. We describe the first such death from a carcinoma and review the literature for similar cases since 1966. A high clinical index of suspicion and early laryngoscopy in individuals with symptoms suggestive of hypopharyngeal neoplasia are important.
authors.affiliation: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Charleston, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Belding
authors.forename: Zia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sabet
mesh_terms: D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology*; D002281:Carcinoma, Basosquamous / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged