Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the larynx with regional and distant metastases

Chondrosarcoma of the larynx is an unusual tumor, with only approximately 200 cases having been reported. This tumor is relatively nonaggressive and tends to remain localized in the larynx. Two cases with aggressive clinical behavior manifested by regional or distant metastasis are presented. In the first case, cervical node metastasis appeared 6 months after total laryngectomy. A dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma was identified by pathologic examination. In the other case, clavicular metastasis developed 7 years after initial local excision. Despite additional treatments, the patient later developed cervical node, lung, and vertebral metastasis. Transformation from low-grade to dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma was verified by pathologic examination. We believe this case to be the first reported laryngeal chondrosarcoma with bone metastasis. A review of the literature regarding regional and/or distant metastasis of laryngeal chondrosarcoma, including the present observations, reveals a total of 20 cases. In all cases, tumor grade has been directly correlated with the development of metastasis.