Exophytic and papillary squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx: A clinicopathologic series of 104 cases

Abstract

Exophytic and papillary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are uncommon variants of SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. The histomorphologic distinction between these variants has not been previously attempted or correlated with prognostic outcome. One hundred four cases of exophytic and papillary SCCs of the larynx were identified in the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1971 to 1991. The patients included 25 women and 79 men, aged 27 to 89 years (average 60.7 years). Patients had hoarseness at presentation, and many patients were using tobacco (n = 87) and/or alcohol (n = 49). Tumors measured up to 6 cm in greatest dimension. The larger tumors were associated with vocal cord impairment (n = 39). Histologically, the SCCs were divided into 2 growth patterns: papillary-frond (n = 12) or broad-based, exophytic (n = 92). Patients were treated with excisional biopsy, vocal cord stripping, and/or laryngectomy, in conjunction with radiation therapy (n = 70). Eighty-seven patients had no evidence of disease at last follow-up (average follow-up 8.6 years). Seventeen patients with an exophytic pattern died with disease (10 disseminated disease; 7 local disease). No patients with papillary patterns died of disease, although there had been 4 recurrences. In conclusion, patients with papillary and exophytic SCCs have a better prognosis than those with conventional SCCs, and the prognosis for those with papillary SCCs is even better.