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Oat Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx
Author(s) -
Bone Robert C.,
Deer David
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1002/lary.1978.88.7.1190
Subject(s) - medicine , laryngectomy , larynx , radiation therapy , pathological , neck dissection , dissection (medical) , lymph node , primary tumor , lymphatic system , carcinoma , chemotherapy , radiology , surgery , basal cell , cancer , pathology , metastasis
Oat cell carcinoma is a well known pulmonary entity. Reports of this disease at extrapulmonary sites, particularly the larynx, have been rare. The natural history of such a tumor in a 64‐year‐old man is documented in this report. This supraglottic tumor (classified as T 2 N 1b M 0 was surgically resectable. Because of the large cervical node, preoperative irradiation was performed. After completion of 4000 rads to the primary tumor and regional lymphatics, there was dramatic regression of disease at both sites. Subsequently, the patient underwent supraglottic laryngectomy and neck dissection. The gross specimen revealed microscopic residual tumor at the primary site (with uninvolved margins) and in the palpable cervical node. In spite of adequate surgical excision, the patient was dead of widespread distant metastases within two months of surgery. Review of the literature reveals that oat cell carcinoma at extrapulmonary sites is likely to behave in this manner. The operating laryngologist should be aware of this rare pathological variant because of its propensity for distant metastases in the presence of surgically curable disease in the region of origin. Alternative methods of management (including radiation therapy and chemotherapy) are discussed.