title: Laryngeal chondrosarcoma--ten years of experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laryngeal involvement by cartilaginous tumors is rare. However, although accounting for only 1% of laryngeal tumor pathology, they are the most frequently occurring non-epithelial neoplasms. The most probable location is the endolaryngeal surface of the cricoid cartilage. Their symptoms are variable, depending on the size and location, and may include hoarseness, stridor, and dyspnea. Treatment is based on surgical excision. Some centers take into account the degree of differentiation and whether it is a case of relapse when deciding to perform a radical resection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate this disease in a sample of the Portuguese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the medical records from 2002 to 2012 by assessment of clinical processes was performed. Data on demographics, clinical treatments, and outcomes were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients were included in the study. Five of them underwent total laryngectomy, and in one case, partial excision of the thyroid cartilage was performed. None of the patients had either metastases or tumor-related death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngeal chondrosarcomas remain a rare disease of unknown etiology, with slow and insidious symptoms. The treatment is surgical, with favorable prognosis, and metastases rarely occur. The main concern regards their propensity to relapse.
authors.affiliation: Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: josefsoliveira@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Fernando dos Santos
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Francisco António Pinto Lopes
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Branquinho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Rita Raposeiro Tomé Nobre
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria Edite Correia Castro
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Portugal
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Arnaldo Manuel Ferreira Silva
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Chondrosarcoma; Condrossarcoma; Doenças da laringe; Eoplasias laríngeas; Laryngeal neoplasms; Larynx