[Enlarged ventricular sacculus in laryngeal carcinoma--in increased risk in tumor surgery]

The case of a 60-year-old female patient with a supraglottic larynx carcinoma (T3N2CM0) and bilateral enlargement of the laryngeal sacculus is presented. On one side, the sacculus opened atypically into the left vestibular fold. The sacculus is a physiologic part of the roof of Morgagni's ventricle, the size of which can vary greatly. These canal-like structures can be the point of origin of cysts, laryngoceles, mucoceles, and pyoceles. Laryngoceles are present in about 5% of larynx carcinomas; their cause is not precisely known. Frequently, a computer tomogram suggests the coincidence of larynx carcinoma and laryngoceles or a large laryngeal sacculus. In oral panendoscopy, these ventricular distensions are difficult to detect even using 70 degrees rigid endoscopes. A planned supraglottic partial resection must take into account early tumor growth along the performed canals in the preepiglottic space. In this patient, a laryngectomy was performed due to the bilateral involvement of the vocal process and the anterior commissure.