Laryngeal cancer involving a branchial cleft cyst

Background Benign secondary neck lesions in the setting of laryngeal cancer have been described, but not with branchial cleft cysts. This article describes a branchial cleft cyst in a laryngectomy/neck dissection specimen. Methods and Results A 44‐year‐old woman presented to our emergency department...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Head & neck 2011-12, Vol.33 (12), p.1796-1799
Main Authors: Ida, Jonathan B., Stark, Matthew W., Xiang, Zhenggong, Fazekas‐May, Mary M., Smith, Russell B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Branchial cleft cyst
Branchioma - pathology
Branchioma - surgery
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery
concomitant lesion
extralaryngeal spread
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology
Head and Neck Neoplasms - surgery
Humans
laryngeal cancer
Laryngeal Neoplasms - pathology
Laryngeal Neoplasms - surgery
Laryngectomy
Medical sciences
Neck Dissection
Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - pathology
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
staging
Tumors
Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
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Summary:Background Benign secondary neck lesions in the setting of laryngeal cancer have been described, but not with branchial cleft cysts. This article describes a branchial cleft cyst in a laryngectomy/neck dissection specimen. Methods and Results A 44‐year‐old woman presented to our emergency department with an obstructing laryngeal tumor that was staged as a T4N0M0 squamous cell cancer on the basis of clinical and radiographic findings. After laryngectomy with bilateral neck dissections, the neck specimen contained a right‐sided branchial cleft cyst, which was directly invaded by tumor. In addition, the location of the cyst relative to the larynx suggested that this was a third branchial cleft cyst. Conclusion This is the first report of a laryngeal carcinoma invading a branchial cleft cyst. Staging discrepancies may result from concurrent head and neck lesions, altering treatment plans, or changing the prognosis for the patient. Lesions such as this are nearly impossible to diagnose preoperatively, and a high index of suspicion for advanced cancer should be maintained. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010
ISSN:1043-3074
1097-0347
DOI:10.1002/hed.21476