[Nonepithelial malignant neoplasms of the larynx and hypopharynx].

OBJECTIVES

Nonepithelial Malignant Neoplasms of the larynx and hypopharynx are rare. Their clinical features, diagnosis and treatment were discussed.

METHODS

From 1985 to 1996, 23 cases of nonepithelial malignant neoplasms of the larynx and 3 cases of hypopharynx were diagnosed. There were 21 males and 5 females. Age of the patients ranged from 16 to 65 years. Laryngeal tumours included 11 cases of sarcomas, 1 extramedullary plasmocytoma, 9 lymphomas and 2 malignant melanomas. Hypopharyngeal tumours included 1 leiomyosarcoma and 2 malignant melanomas. Extensive resection was the first treatment for 21 patients. Then, according to their histopathologic features, irradiation or/and chemotherapy were chosen.

RESULTS

Follow-up period was from 6 months to 10 years. There were 12 patients survived for 4 to 10 years, including 6 cases of laryngeal sarcomas, 2 supraglottic lymphomas, 2 malignant melanomas of the larynx, 1 malignant melanoma and 1 leiomyosarcoma of the hypopharynx.

CONCLUSIONS

Characteristics for these tumours were: 1. usually covered by intact mucosa; 2. laryngeal tumours rarely metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes; 3. difficulties in histopathological diagnosis, and immunohistochemistry is helpful to differentiation and determination.