title: Obstructive laryngeal schwannoma in a young female.
abstract: Laryngeal schwannomas are rare, benign neurogenic tumors. They normally present as a slow-growing, encapsulated, submucosal mass in the supraglottic region. We describe a 20-year-old female presenting with a 2-year history of hoarseness and progressive worsening dyspnea. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy and computed tomography revealed a round, low-density submucosal mass at right false cord and arytenoepiglottic regions with glottic extension. Microlaryngoscopic biopsy and debulking for this solid tumor were performed without tracheostomy. Schwannoma was confirmed by histopathological study. However, rapidly worsening stridor occurred 2 weeks after the surgery. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy showed an exophytic tumor occupying the right hemilarynx with airway compromise. Definite complete excision of the tumor was performed by right vertical hemilaryngectomy. At 5-month follow-up, the laryngeal wound was clear without signs of recurrence. Rapid occurrence of airway obstruction after debulking and biopsy was demonstrated in this case. Vertical hemilaryngectomy was inevitable to cure this potentially life-threatening laryngeal schwannoma in this young female with postoperative serviceable voice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. filmyme@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chang-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Division of Chest Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. acromion.tw@yahoo.com.tw.|Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. acromion.tw@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Shah-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. lazzz_wu@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. peirinl@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Peir-In
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. kawolee@kmu.edu.tw.|Department of Otolaryngology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No.100, Zyou 1st Road, Kaohsiung City, 807, Taiwan. kawolee@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ka-Wo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D007825:Laryngectomy; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009442:Neurilemmoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D055815:Young Adult