Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

Abstract

A case of papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx in a 50-year-old man is reported. The lesion was located in the supraglottic region and grossly presented a characteristic finger-like pattern of growth. The tumour pursued an indolent clinical course, and the patient is well and free of disease after 47 months of follow-up. The present paper recapitulates the macro- and microscopic features of this rare neoplasm and stresses its differential diagnosis with other exophytic squamous cell carcinomas of the region.

Update from the 4th Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Head and Neck Tumours: What is New in the 2017 WHO Blue Book for Tumours of the Hypopharynx, Larynx, Trachea and Parapharyngeal Space

“…Among subtypes of laryngeal CSCC, the papillary variant is most frequently related to HPV infection [29][30][31]. The presence of HPV mRNA was detected in 5 of 22 (26.3%) papillary SCC, while p16 immunohistochemistry was positive in 13.6% of cases.…”

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Variants of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract: A Comprehensive Review With a Focus on Genetic Alterations

“…It demonstrates a predilection for the larynx, oropharynx, and sinonasal tract and is more common in older men. [189][190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197] Symptoms are related to the site of involvement and the presence of invasive disease and metastases. Rarely, patients present with a prior history of noninvasive papillomas.…”

Cytology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma variants

“…Papillary SCC is an uncommon variant which most frequently occurs in older men and involves any site in the UADT, but most commonly the larynx and sinonasal tract. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Etiologic factors for papillary SCC remain unknown; some authors have speculated that they may be related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Overall, papillary SCCs tend to have a better prognosis than conventional SCCs, but this may be because some cases are not truly invasive or because the cases present earlier in their development due to their exophytic nature.…”