Solitary subglottic neurofibroma: a report of an unusual manifestation

Abstract

Neurofibromas of the larynx are extremely rare, especially in the subglottic part. Most of the patients with neurofibromas suffer from neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1, von Recklinghausen's disease), which is characterized by cafe-au-lait spots and neurofibromas of any type. We present a case of a solitary neurofibroma in the subglottic region that relapsed 4 years after the primary diagnosis. The clinical findings, histological results and therapy are discussed.

Laryngeal Manifestations of Neurofibromatosis

“…2,3 Primary tumors of the larynx associated with NF are exceedingly rare and have been characterized in several small case series. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] As a whole, however, laryngeal manifestations of NF have not been characterized, including vocal fold paralysis. Here, we aim to characterize the range of symptoms, medical histories, and examination findings in patients with NF presenting to an academic laryngology clinic and to analyze the etiologic factors of vocal fold dysfunction in this cohort.…”

Seltene Erkrankungen des Larynx, der Trachea und der Schilddrüse

“…The clinical appearance depends on the size and the location of the findings. Comparable to schwannomas, neurofibromas are mostly found in the supraglottis and rarely in the subglottis or in the trachea 151 .…”

“…Die Klinik ist abhängig von der Größe und der Lokalisation der Befunde. Wie auch Schwannome finden sich Neurofibrome meist supraglottisch und selten subglottisch oder in der Trachea 151 .…”

Isolated Vocal Fold Neurofibroma

“…1 Fewer than 40 cases have been documented in the English literature, the vast majority being neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) in the supraglottis of pediatric patients. 2 Gstöttner et al (2005) described the first case of isolated neurofibroma of the larynx in the subglottic region, resected by CO 2 laser. 3 The only previous neurofibroma of the vocal fold occurred in a 78-year-old male who presented with a 1-month history of hoarseness and odynophagia, resected by cold steel.…”

“…2 Gstöttner et al (2005) described the first case of isolated neurofibroma of the larynx in the subglottic region, resected by CO 2 laser. 3 The only previous neurofibroma of the vocal fold occurred in a 78-year-old male who presented with a 1-month history of hoarseness and odynophagia, resected by cold steel. 2 We present the second documented case of isolated laryngeal neurofibroma of the vocal fold, which became symptomatic over years rather than months.…”