2023 Volume 69 Issue 2 Pages 139-144
A 73-year-old male with hoarseness caused by leukoplakia of the left vocal cord was been referred to our department. A polyp-like mass in the anterior part of the right vocal cord has developed 13 months after the first visit, which was diagnosed as spindle cell carcinoma (T1aN0M0) by excisional biopsy under general anesthesia and postoperative imaging. Since the surgical margin was negative, adjuvant therapy was not performed, and the patient is alive without recurrence at 18 months postoperatively. Spindle cell carcinoma is categorized as a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma, and consists of biphasic squamous cell carcinoma and spindle cells. Although the larynx is the most frequent site of spindle cell carcinoma of the head and neck, it accounts for only 1% of laryngeal tumors. Laryngeal spindle cell carcinoma is often characterized by a polyp-like appearance and exophytic growth, and should be carefully distinguished from benign lesions. While surgery is widely performed as a definitive treatment,the roles of radiation therapy and medical therapy are not proven due to the rarity of the disease. Thus, further molecular biological research to identify the targetable alternations is warranted.
