Fungal infection of the epiglottis simulating a clinical malignancy

Primary fungal infection of the larynx is rare. We present a case of primary laryngeal invasive fungal infection in a patient with Felty syndrome. The lesion in the epiglottis resembled a malignant process and the whole epiglottis was excised endoscopically. No neoplasia was found and the cultures of the epiglottis grew Candida glabrata. We propose that the diagnosis of laryngeal candidiasis be considered in adult patients with certain predisposing factors, eg, immunodeficiency syndromes, but the possibility of underlying malignancy must be ruled out.