PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common laryngeal tumor accounting for more than 90% of the tumor cases. Nevertheless, other non-squamous tumors and tumor like conditions can present as a laryngeal mass. Those tumors have variable biological behavior and prognosis, therefore it is imperative to be familiar with them and guide the clinician appropriately. In this presentation we will show cases of non-squamous tumors and tumor like conditions of the larynx.
METHODS: A retrospective review of our tumor cases from multidisciplinary tumor-board meeting, revealed several cases of non-squamous laryngeal masses.
FINDINGS: A variety of benign and malignant tumors of epithelial, vascular, neuroectodermal and mesanchymal origin may reside in the larynx. Usually they will not be accompanied by mucosal surface infiltration.
Epithelial tumors:
Minor salivary glands are distributed throughout the aero-digestive system, including the larynx. Tumors of salivary gland tissue such as adenoid cystic carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma may be found in the larynx.
Vascular tumors:
Capillary hemangioma may present in infants. Trans-spatial vascular malformation of the head and neck may also involve the larynx.
Cartilaginous tumors:
Chondrosarcoma of the cricoid cartilage is the most common laryngeal sarcoma. Additionally chordoma and osteosarcoma may also occur.
Paraganglioma is of neuroendocrine origin and most commonly found in the carotid space, however it may rarely be found in the larynx.
Tumors of the lymphoreticular system such as lymphoma, plasmacytoma and leukemia my involve the larynx. Additional rare tumors are lipomas, rhabdomyomas and metastases.
Chondronecrosis and chondritis may mimic a tumor.
SUMMARY: Non-squamous tumors of the larynx are rare and usually present without mucosal ulceration and infiltration, Familiarity with the imaging features of those tumors is essential for patients treatment and care.
CATEGORIES: HEAD AND NECK, Pharynx, Larynx
REFERENCE: Blitz AM, Aygun N. Radiologic Evaluation of Larynx Cancer. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, 2008:
41:697-713.
