Solitary fibrous tumour of the larynx: a case report

Laryngeal Solitary Fibrous Tumor: A Case Report and Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

Solitary fibrous tumors are spindle cell neoplasms of mesenchymal origin that rarely occur in the larynx and may be mistaken for other pathologies. This case presentation and systematic review investigates presentation, treatment modalities, and outcomes of this unusual tumor.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review of PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EMBASE including a novel case presentation METHODS: A systematic search according to the PRISMA guidelines was performed to isolate the reports of solitary fibrous tumors arising in the larynx and its subsites. Variables analyzed included patient demographics, presenting symptoms, smoking status, concurrent tumors, imaging studies, biopsy results, treatment, outcomes, and follow-up. Our additional report provides the second such description of this lesion originating within the true vocal fold.

RESULTS

Systematic review revealed 21 previous reports of solitary fibrous tumors originating from laryngeal subsites. The most common presenting symptom was dysphonia. All patients underwent local excision. Two patients had recurrences. Our patient presented with progressive dysphonia over 4 years. Stroboscopic examination revealed a large translucent mass of the left vocal fold. Local excision of the tumor was achieved with transoral resection with KTP laser. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a strong positivity for CD34 and HMW CK34BE12. Nine-month follow-up has not revealed any evidence of persistent or recurrent disease.

CONCLUSION

Laryngeal solitary fibrous tumors are rare and are unlikely to recur in the absence of malignant findings. Complete surgical resection is an acceptable treatment for this lesion accompanied by appropriate follow-up.

A Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Subglottic Larynx: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) arising from the larynx are extremely rare; most occur in the supraglottic larynx.

CASE REPORT

Herein, we detail a new case of a subglottic SFT presenting as a well-encapsulated soft-tissue tumor with hoarseness. It showed isoattenuation, similar to the adjacent muscle on pre-contrast computed tomography (CT) images, and strong, heterogeneous enhancement following contrast material administration, which may reflect hypervascularity. On pathological examination, it consisted of spindle cells, squeezed between abundant collagen, and focally prominent vascularity in a staghorn feature. The tumor cells were immunoreactive for CD34, BCL2 and CD99. Based on the combination of architectural and immunohistochemical criteria, we ultimately diagnosed this case as an SFT.

CONCLUSION

Until now, only 14 cases of laryngeal SFT have been described in the literature: 13 located in the supraglottic areas and only one located in the subglottic/tracheal area. Therefore the present case is the second case of a subglottic SFT reported. Although rare, SFT should be included in the differential diagnosis of a well-marginated laryngeal mass with highly intense contrast enhancement, which suggests rich tumor vascularity.

Solitary fibrous tumour of the supraglottic larynx

Solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) is a rare, benign, mesenchymal neoplasm that usually arises in the pleura, but rarely involves other sites outside the serosal space (mediastinum, lung, liver, thyroid gland); larynx involvement is very rare with only sporadic cases reported in the literature. We report a case of SFT in a 41-year-old woman with supraglottic laryngeal invovlement; symptoms included dysphonia and mild odynophagia lasting 2 years, and fibre-optic laryngeal evaluation showed a sub-mucosal mass involving the left supraglottis and medial wall of the pyriform sinus. MRI represents the gold standard tool for differential diagnosis (with schwannoma, paraganglioma and haemangioma) and correct staging, while immunohistochemical and cytomorphologic analysis (bcl-2 and CD34 positivity in 90% of cases) is needed for definitive diagnosis. Surgery is the main treatment (endoscopic and open conservative technique), and its goal is a balance between safe oncological resection and good preservation of laryngeal functions; in this particular case an open laryngeal approach was scheduled due to the size of the tumour. Prognosis is good and in only a few cases (especially in pleural SFT) does the biological behaviour take a malignant course.