[Coexistence of laryngeal cancer and laryngocele: a radiologic and pathologic evaluation]

We investigated the incidence of laryngocele in patients with laryngeal cancer and in healthy controls and evaluated the role of laryngocele in neck metastasis and thyroid cartilage invasion.

The incidence of laryngocele was investigated by computed tomography (CT) preoperatively in 52 patients (49 men, 3 women; mean age 56 years; range 36 to 79 years) with laryngeal cancer. The findings were compared with those of histopathologic studies; moreover, neck metastasis and thyroid cartilage invasion were sought. In addition, the incidence of laryngocele was examined in 50 normal controls.

Histopathologic examination showed laryngocele in 17 patients (32.7%). The incidence of laryngocele by CT was 30.7% (n = 16). Computed tomography showed laryngocele in three cases (6%). Of patients with laryngocele, lymph node metastasis and thyroid cartilage invasion were detected histopathologically in 47% and 23.5%, respectively, whereas lymph node metastasis and thyroid cartilage invasion were found in 22.8% of patients without laryngocele (p > 0.05).

The association between laryngeal cancer and laryngocele requires a detailed evaluation for laryngeal carcinoma in patients in whom an asymptomatic laryngocele had been detected by CT.