title: Supracricoid partial laryngectomy as a primary treatment for carcinosarcoma of the larynx.
abstract: Carcinosarcoma of the larynx is uncommon. When it does occur; its clinical features resemble those of sarcomatoid carcinoma, and its biologic behavior is similar to that of malignant mesenchymal neoplasms. We describe 2 cases of carcinosarcoma of the glottis. The tumors were staged as T3N0M0 and T2N0M0. Both patients were treated with supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. Eight months postoperatively, 1 of the 2 patients experienced a recurrence of the sarcomatous component of the tumor, and he underwent a total laryngectomy. The other patient remained free of disease at 12 months of follow-up. We conclude that supracricoid partial laryngectomy may be offered as an organ-preserving measure even in patients with sarcomatous disease; total laryngectomy can be held in reserve as a rescue measure. Patients must be closely monitored for early detection of recurrence. The role of adjuvant therapy for sarcomatous neoplasms in this area has not yet been clearly established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Tlalpan, D.F. 14080, Mexico, kuauhyama@starmedia.com
authors.forename: Kuauhyama
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luna-Ortiz
authors.forename: Adalberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosqueda-Taylor
mesh_terms: D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016896:Treatment Outcome