Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx Arising in the Intracordal Cyst

ABSTRACT

More than half of patients presenting with hoarseness show benign vocal cord changes. However, in rare cases with benign mucosal lesions, it can be diagnosed as a malignant disease after histopathological examination. A 53-year-old man with a 30-pack-year smoking history was admitted for the evaluation of hoarseness, and using a laryngoscope, an enclosed, sac-like cystic lesion was detected on the midpoint of the right true vocal cord. The cystic lesion was deemed to be an intracordal cyst and treated with laryngeal microsurgery. However, pathological findings showed squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx arising in the intracordal cyst, which is exceptionally rare. Therefore, even if a benign lesion is initially suspected, a biopsy must be performed on a patient with smoking history to confirm the diagnosis. In conclusion, we report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx arising in the intracordal cyst.