[Search-frames]

[Search-no frames]

[UCHC Home]

[©]

[Feed Back]

[About]

Squamous Carcinoma of Larynx

Etiology: • Associated with cigarette smoking most strongly • Human papillomavirus genome has been detected • Asbestosis another cofactor

Pathogenesis: • ? whether same mechanism of BPDE (catabolite of benzo[a]pyrene in cigarette smoke).binds p53 mutational hot spots as in lung carcinoma • p53 mutation affects cell replication and centromere replication

Epidemiology: • Usually men with long cigarette smoking history • Age generally >50 years

General Gross Description: • Granular, gray white, exophytic or ulcerated neoplasms • Glottic if involve the true vocal cords • Supraglottic above cords • Infraglottic below cords • Although pyriform sinus is part of hypopharynx, generally considered with supraglottic carcinomas

General Microscopic Description: • Frequently keratinizing with pearl formation • Hyperchromatic nuclei with irregular outlines • Prominent nucleoli • Can range from well to poorly differentiated • May be accompanied by dysplastic or in situ changes in adjacent squamous mucosa

Clinical Correlations: • Present with hoarseness and/or airway obstruction • All neoplasms spread to the regional lymph nodes • Eventually spread to lungs and other distant sites • Extensive morbidity and mortality due to local disease with airway obstruction, hemorrhage, infection • Treatment modalities include surgery and radiation • Best prognosis for glottic neoplasms

References: • Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL. Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. W.B. Saunders. Philadephia 1994. p. 745-6. • Sternberg SS. Diagnostic Surgical Pathology.2nd edition. Raven Press. New York. 1994 pp. 897-911.