Laryngeal Spindle Cell/Pleomorphic Lipoma: A Case Report. An In-Depth Review of the Adipocytic Tumors

Abstract

Spindle cell and pleomorphic lipomas (SC/PLs) are a rare form of lipomatous tumors. They typically occur as a slow-growing localized mass in the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the posterior neck, back, and shoulders. This benign variant represents less than 1.5% of all lipomas and is relatively uncommon in the head and neck area. A manifestation in the larynx is even rarer. Unlike other anatomic locations, laryngeal lipomas can pose life-threatening symptoms secondary to acute obstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract. This report presents a case of a large SC/PL of the larynx associated with hoarseness, dysphagia, globus sensation, and neck fullness. The tumor was successfully removed through an anterior transcervical approach with infrahyoid myotomy. The authors review the literature concerning head and neck adipocytic tumors with spindle cells and discuss the difficulties in distinguishing SC/PLs from liposarcomas. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case to be reported in the oral and maxillofacial surgery literature.