Laryngeal endocrinomas (carcinoids and relevant neoplasms): analysis of 278 reported cases

This study was carried out to provide extensive information obtained from statistical analysis of laryngeal endocrinomas for the use of investigators working in this particular research field. A total of 278 patients with both typical and atypical varieties of carcinoids, and with small/oat cell carcinomas (SCC/OCC) exhibiting a confirmed endocrine nature were statistically evaluated, and the significance in various clinicopathologic aspects among these three types of such endocrine neoplasms of the larynx was compared. A statistically significant difference between two groups of typical carcinoid and atypical variety was evident only in a few items such as rates of metastases, positive CEA, and multisecretory activity, while a significant difference between the carcinoid groups and SCC/OCC group was demonstrated in numerous areas, among others, e.g. 1) in the overall rates of metastases and at the sites of involvement, 2) in Grimelius argyrophilia, 3) in immunohistochemical demonstration of positive chromogranin, CEA, calcitonin and multisecretory activity, and 4) in the 5-year survival rates. Such a definite difference between the carcinoid groups and SCC/OCC group suggested an apparently different characteristic nature present between these two series of neoplasms. The necessity of an international agreement regarding diagnostic criteria for typical carcinoids and atypical varieties was in particular emphasized from a viewpoint of an exceptionally high incidence of laryngeal atypical carcinoids in comparison to such neoplasms in other organs.