Acute dyspnea caused by a giant spindle cell lipoma of the larynx

Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2016 Feb;128(3-4):146-9. doi: 10.1007/s00508-015-0866-8. Epub 2015 Oct 5.

Abstract

Background: The spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a special type of lipoma and this is very rare in the head and neck regions. There are only five reported cases exist, which describes the occurrence of a SCL in the hypopharynx.

Methods: Our case report presents a case of a very large SCL in the larynx. We want to describe that how we treated the patients and compared the situation with other reported cases.

Results: Intraoperatively, we found a tumor mass of 7 × 5 cm. It was successfully removed with the carbon dioxide laser. No postoperative complications occurred.

Conclusions: Although SCL is a very rare diagnosis in the larynx/hypopharynx, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of larynx/hypopharynx tumors. Our case is the first report of such a large SCL in the larynx. The clinical symptoms occurred relatively late and ended up in an acute situation of stridor and dyspnea.

Keywords: Acute dyspnea; CO2 laser; Larynx; Spindle cell lipoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea / diagnosis
  • Dyspnea / etiology*
  • Dyspnea / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / complications*
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Laryngeal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Laryngectomy / methods*
  • Lipoma / complications*
  • Lipoma / diagnosis
  • Lipoma / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome