Giant cell tumor of the larynx. Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Giant cell tumor of bone is rare in the osteocartilaginous tissues of the larynx. We describe a 23-year-old man with a 6-month history of progressive hoarseness and an enlarging neck mass. Computed tomography demonstrated a 4-cm mass with central cystic change arising in the right ala of the thyroid cartilage. A hemilaryngectomy was performed. Grossly, the lesion was expansile and circumscribed, but unencapsulated. On microscopic examination, numerous multinucleated giant cells were evenly dispersed within a cellular and vascular stroma. The findings were characteristic of giant cell tumor of bone. The patient has been disease free for 56 months. A review of the international literature yielded 11 cases. No lesion is known to have recurred after surgical excision, irradiation, or both. We present a clinicopathologic analysis of giant cell tumors involving the larynx and conclude that giant cell tumors are associated with a favorable clinical outcome.