Chondrosarcoma treated with transoral near total resection of the cricoid

Chondrosarcomas of the larynx are usually slow-growing tumours. Their prognosis is reportedly unaffected by local tumour recurrence. Nevertheless, total laryngectomy is often performed in fear that resection of the posterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage may cause laryngeal collapse and stenosis. Transoral laser surgery (TLS) is not considered among the treatment options. This case report supports the feasibility of a radical yet organ- and function-preserving tumour excision using TLS.

A female patient presented with dyspnoea due to an extensive low-grade laryngeal chondrosarcoma. TLS treatment involved total resection of the posterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage. The patient was decannulated 8 months later with normal swallowing and satisfactory voice quality, which allowed her to have a normal personal and social life.

TLS excision of the posterior lamina of the cricoid cartilage seems to be a feasible and radical yet function- and organ-preserving technique with minimal morbidity.