Proximal airway obstruction presenting as dyspnea. A case of chondrosarcoma of the larynx

A 50-year-old woman presented with a one-year history of dyspnea originally thought to be solely the result of asthma. Physical examination (indirect laryngoscopy) and x-ray study established that proximal airway compromise was present secondary to chondrosarcoma of the larynx. This case illustrates the necessity of considering proximal airway obstruction in differential diagnosis of dyspnea.