Associated laryngeal and lung carcinoma

Synchronous or metachronous carcinoma of the larynx and of the lung were seen in seven patients between 1971 and 1977 at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec. The pulmonary lesion was either missed completely or misdiagnosed. Laryngeal tumours were curable but only two of the pulmonary tumours were treated successfully. The primary nature of the pulmonary lesion may be established by careful examination of the bronchial mucosa. Hemoptysis must always be regarded as a sign of pulmonary cancer unless proven otherwise; hoarseness must not be bluntly attributed to invasion of the laryngeal nerve by lung cancer because a small primary lesion of the vocal cords may exist. Possible pulmonary metastases from any respiratory tract cancer must be carefully diagnosed since curative resection of primary lung lesions is possible.