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[Chondrosarcoma of the larynx]
B M Lippert1, H Claassen, J Bäumken
1Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universität Kiel.
Laryngo- Rhino- Otologie
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Laryngeal chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare but frequently overlooked malignancy. Diagnosis is often delayed, impacting treatment outcomes for this slow-growing tumor.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Oncology
- Head and Neck Surgery
Background:
- Chondrosarcoma (CS) is a rare malignancy in the head and neck, though it is the most common non-epithelial laryngeal tumor.
- This tumor entity is often neglected, necessitating a discussion of its characteristics, differential diagnosis, and treatment.
Observation:
- A retrospective review of five laryngeal chondrosarcoma cases diagnosed between 1975 and 1995.
- Patients (1 woman, 4 men, average age 71) presented with symptoms ranging from 9 months to 10 years.
- Tumor origins were the cricoid cartilage (4 cases) and arytenoid cartilage (1 case).
Findings:
- Histological examination revealed moderate (2 cases) or high (3 cases) differentiation.
- Vocal cord fixation or reduced movement was observed in three patients.
- Initial misdiagnosis as chondroma occurred in one case.
Implications:
- Laryngeal chondrosarcoma exhibits slow growth, often leading to late diagnosis.
- Accurate histological examination and differentiation from chondroma can be challenging.
- Treatment strategies, including laryngectomy or function-preserving surgery, depend on tumor grade and patient choice, with variable outcomes.