Purulent chondritis of thyroid cartilage

We report a case of a 77-year-old female with purulent chondritis of the thyroid cartilage who was initially referred for laryngeal neoplasm. Purulent chondritis of the laryngeal cartilage is a rare entity with three reports in the literature. The unique CT imaging features of expansile laryngeal cartilage with peripheral rim enhancement and central fluid-attenuation correlate to the abscess formation between the inner and outer perichondria. The correct imaging assessment prompts surgical management and avoid misdiagnosis.

Endoscopic approach for a laryngeal neoplasm in a dog

Laryngeal and tracheal tumors are rare in pets; some piece of information on their disease behavior, therapy and evolution are limited. Neoplasms in this area are a diagnostic challenge. In many cases, they can be biopsied and excised using endoscopic instruments, but there is no report of this in canines. The goal of this study is to report a successful case of a laryngeal neoplasm removal through endoscopy. A head and neck radiogram revealed a mass in the laryngeal lumen protruding into the trachea. The patient then underwent an endoscopy to confirm the radiographic diagnosis and to surgically remove the tumor. The histopathological diagnosis was poorly differentiated carcinoma. The most appropriate treatment for laryngeal tumors is the resection of the submucosa or a partial laryngectomy however, partial and total laryngectomies are associated with many postoperative complications. In contrast, the endoscopic approach allows for highly magnified visualization of the lesion in situ, which facilitates the surgical removal of the mass through videosurgery. With little manipulation of the affected area, the chances of postoperative complications are reduced, leading to a more rapid recovery.

Microvessel and mast cell densities in malignant laryngeal neoplasm

Laryngeal neoplasm contributes to 30-40% of carcinomas of the head and neck. Mast cells are normal connective tissue residents, well represented in the respiratory tract. Experimental evidence suggests that the growth of a tumor beyond a certain size requires angiogenesis, which may also permit metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between mast cell density, microvascular density, histopathological type and histological grade. Our study included 38 laryngeal carcinomas as follows: adenoid cystic carcinoma (2 cases), malignant papilloma (2 cases) and squamous cell carcinoma (34 cases). The combined technique of CD 34-alcian blue safranin (ABS) was used to identify microvessel and mast cell density, which was quantified by the hot spot method. A significant correlation was found between both mast cell and microvascular density, and G1/G2 histological grade (p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively). Squamous cell carcinoma was significantly correlated with mast cell density (p=0.003), but not with microvascular density (p=0.454).