Laryngeal true malignant mixed tumor.
BACKGROUND
True malignant mixed tumor, also known as carcinosarcoma, is a salivary gland type malignant neoplasm, which is extremely rare, and only a few cases arising in the larynx have been previously reported.


RESULTS
We report a case of true malignant mixed tumor arising in the larynx of a 65-year-old woman successfully treated with surgery. Histologically, the neoplasm was composed of variably mixed, neoplastic glandular, spindle, and chondroid tissues. Immunohistochemical analyses showed a peculiar expression of myoepithelial markers such as p63 and calponin in the glandular epithelial component, whereas malignant spindle cell proliferation was immunoreactive for calponin and actin.


CONCLUSIONS
These results strengthen the hypothesis that these neoplasms may develop from a divergent differentiation of a totipotent, myoepithelial precursor cell. Despite the unfavorable prognosis that has always been described for these neoplasms, the patient is alive with no evidence of recurrences 5 years after surgery.
Stomeo
Francesco
F
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. fstomeo@libero.it
Rocca
Paolo Cossu
PC
Bozzo
Corrado
C
Bianchini
Chiara
C
Meloni
Francesco
F
Pastore
Antonio
A
D000368:Aged; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018198:Mixed Tumor, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery