Metastatic laryngeal carcinoma mimicking pleural mesothelioma

Our plain-English summary of Metastatic laryngeal carcinoma mimicking pleural mesothelioma, by M. Huncharek, J. Muscat (Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases, 1991).

The study

• Authors: M. Huncharek, J. Muscat
• Journal: Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
• Published: 1991;58(3-4):204-6
• Type of article: Case report
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

We describe an unusual case of metastatic poorly differentiated laryngeal carcinoma to the pleura resembling pleural mesothelioma in a patient with a positive history of exposure to asbestos. This case not only describes an unusual presentation of metastatic laryngeal carcinoma, but also highlights the need for special pathological techniques to distinguish nonmesothelial tumors from primary pleural mesotheliomas.

In plain English

This case report described one patient: a 70-year-old retired electrician with a 50-pack-year smoking history who reported 20 years of work as an electrician in a Navy shipyard with exposure to asbestos. The article did not name a fiber type. In March 1987 he had hoarseness, and a biopsy of a tumor on his left vocal cord showed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. He had radiation therapy and later a total laryngectomy (removal of the larynx). In July 1988 he became short of breath, and a chest X-ray showed many large nodules in the right lung. A pleural biopsy was at first thought to represent a mesothelioma. Special staining done at another institution matched the original laryngeal cancer, and the diagnosis became laryngeal carcinoma that had spread to the pleura. He died on November 3, 1989. The authors stated that, to their knowledge, this was the first reported case of its kind. They concluded that it showed the need for vigorous investigation of any tumor thought to be a pleural mesothelioma, particularly in patients with documented asbestos exposure.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (one patient)
• Who was studied: One 70-year-old retired electrician with a 50-pack-year smoking history, first seen in March 1987 for hoarseness; place of care not stated
• Exposure: 20-year work history as an electrician in a Navy shipyard with exposure to asbestos (fiber type not stated); also a 50-pack-year smoking history
• Main results:
  • Biopsy of the left vocal cord tumor showed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma
  • In July 1988 a chest X-ray showed numerous large nodules throughout the right lung, and a right pleural effusion was also noted
  • The pleural biopsy showed a poorly differentiated malignant tumor that was at first thought to be a mesothelioma
  • Special staining at another institution gave results consistent with the original laryngeal cancer, and the diagnosis was changed to metastatic, poorly differentiated laryngeal carcinoma of the pleura
  • The patient died on November 3, 1989
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that the case highlights the need for vigorous investigation of any tumor thought to be a pleural mesothelioma, particularly in patients with documented asbestos exposure, so that accurate incidence data can be obtained

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma, Throat and laryngeal cancer.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Carcinoma, Pleural Mesothelioma, Pleura.

Related studies

• Asbestos and laryngeal carcinoma — P.M. Stell, T. McGill (1973)
• Current theories for the development of nonsmoking and nondrinking laryngeal carcinoma — R. Wight, V. Paleri, et al. (2003)
• Exposure to asbestos and laryngeal carcinoma — P.M. Stell, T. McGill (1975)
• Asbestosis, laryngeal carcinoma, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in an insulation worker — A. Fischbein, J.C. Luo, et al. (1991)
• Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers: results of a case-control study — J.L. Marchand, D. Luce, et al. (2000)
• Asbestos fibers in laryngeal tissues. Findings in two patients with asbestosis associated with laryngeal tumors — A. Hirsch, J. Bignon, et al. (1979)

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