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Squamous Carcinoma of the Larynx
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Squamous Carcinoma of the Larynx

View of a larynx which has been opened along the posterior aspect.
Yellow arrows point to vocal cords.
White arrow points to granular red brown carcinoma located just beneath the vocal cords.
(Description By:Melinda Sanders, M.D. )
(Image Contrib. by: Hartford Hospital )
Squamous Carcinoma
Etiology

Strongest association is with cigarette smoking
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 neoplasm
Glottic if involves the true vocal cords
Supraglottic above cords
Infraglottic below cords
Although pyriform sinus is part of hypopharynx, generally grouped 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 Correlation

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. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 745-6.
Sternberg SS ed. Diagnostic Surgical Pathology, 2d edition, Lippincott-Raven; Philadelphia. 1996, pp. 897-911.
Squamous Carcinoma
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T24100M80703)[128]
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