Primary combined squamous and small cell carcinoma of the larynx: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Primary laryngeal carcinomas comprise approximately 2% to 5% of all malignancies worldwide. Of these laryngeal carcinomas, approximately 99% are primary squamous cell carcinomas. During the past 30 years, about 160 cases of primary small cell carcinoma of the larynx have been reported. Combined primary squamous and small cell carcinoma of the larynx, the so-called composite tumor of the larynx, is even more rare, with only 13 published cases to date. Although the major risk factors for developing these composite tumors of the larynx are thought to be similar to other more common neoplasms of the larynx, such as squamous cell carcinoma, the treatment and prognosis are different. We report an additional case of combined small cell carcinoma of the larynx and discuss the histogenesis of this unusual neoplasm.