Cervical emphysema: an unusual presentation of laryngeal cancer

Pézier, Thomas F.; Schuknecht, B.; Schmid, Stephan; Huber, G.

doi:10.1017/s0022215114000437

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our patient also sought medical help only after the sudden onset of subcutaneous emphysema in the neck. The literature chronicles only two similar cases where the first presenting symptom is subcutaneous emphysema however both cases pertain to laryngeal carcinoma [ 10 , 11 ]. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient presenting with subcutaneous emphysema in advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma in the English literature.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Conundrum: Unveiling a Unique Presentation of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Sahai,

Dixit,

Choudhary

et al. 2024

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dysphagia is a common symptom encountered in clinical practice, typically associated with a wide range of etiologies, including structural abnormalities, inflammatory conditions, neoplasms, and neurological disorders. However, the combination of subcutaneous emphysema, vocal cord palsy, enlarged arytenoids, and pooling of saliva in a dysphagic patient represents a rare and intriguing presentation. A 33-year-old female presented at a tertiary care hospital in Western India with hoarseness of voice, difficulty in swallowing, productive cough, and neck pain for two months with an abrupt increase in the severity of all symptoms in two days. A history of chewable tobacco use for six years was disclosed. Clinical evaluation revealed a thin build with platynychia and conjunctival pallor, dental staining, drooling of saliva, the presence of extensive subcutaneous emphysema on palpation of the neck, and absent laryngeal crepitus. Endoscopic evaluation was suggestive of right vocal cord palsy and enlarged, congested arytenoid cartilages, post-cricoid growth with pooling of saliva in bilateral pyriform fossae. A CT scan of the neck showed a 2x3 cm neoplastic growth in the hypopharynx, with subcutaneous emphysema and free air foci in the head and neck region, prompting an immediate tracheostomy and biopsy of the hypopharyngeal growth with Ryle’s tube insertion. Squamous cell carcinoma was confirmed on the biopsy report. Due to its rarity, the possible underlying cause of idiopathic subcutaneous emphysema should be sought whenever encountered in clinical practice since these patients are potentially misdiagnosed. A high index of suspicion among clinicians, along with a consideration of the constellation of other symptoms and clinical features of a possible underlying hypopharyngeal cancer whenever encountering such patients is of key importance for prompting further investigations and treatment.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical Conundrum: Unveiling a Unique Presentation of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Sahai,

Dixit,

Choudhary

et al. 2024

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1 A similar case report has been reported by Pezier et al in 2014 whereby an 82 years old male presented with subcutaneous emphysema due to malignancy of larynx. 10…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subcutanaeous emphysema: An extremely rare manifestation of supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma

Chande

Bawankule²,

Yelne³

et al. 2021

AGEMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present the case report of a 60 years old man who presented to the emergency department with complaints of breathlessness for 2 weeks. After all common causes were ruled out, the patient was subjected to CT scan of neck in which he showed laryngeal mass growth which was perforating through the cartilage. There were a few surrounding lymph nodes and after an FNAC, it was found to be squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was referred for chemotherapy and radiotherapy at higher centre. To our knowledge, this is a very rare presentation of local extension of tumour. The patient presenting with carcinoma at a very late stage, succumbed to it 2 months later.

show abstract

Gross and microscopic features of extensive subcutaneous emphysema

Byard

2016

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cervical emphysema: an unusual presentation of laryngeal cancer

Abstract: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of acute airway compromise from extralaryngeal subcutaneous emphysema secondary to laryngeal cancer. Options for acute airway management are discussed.

Cited by 3 publications

References 12 publications

Clinical Conundrum: Unveiling a Unique Presentation of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Clinical Conundrum: Unveiling a Unique Presentation of Hypopharyngeal Carcinoma

Subcutanaeous emphysema: An extremely rare manifestation of supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma

Gross and microscopic features of extensive subcutaneous emphysema

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About