Supraglottic Schwannoma Presenting as Upper Airway Obstruction in an Elderly Man

Abstract

Neurogenic tumors of the larynx are extremely uncommon. We herein present the case of a 70-year-old man with supraglottic schwannoma who experienced respiratory distress and deterioration of voice. Computed tomography showed a focal enhancing mass located in the supraglottic larynx causing airway compression. The patient underwent tracheostomy under local anesthesia before receiving CO2 laser-assisted microlaryngeal surgery. A sessile, well-encapsulated, submucosal solid tumor (diameter approximately 2 cm) in the interarytenoid region was removed with maximal mucosal preservation. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and at follow up 3 months after the surgery, the patient was completely symptom free. Clinicians should have a heightened awareness of patients with voice change associated with dyspnea, which may suggest upper airway obstruction.

Keywords

• microlaryngoscopy
• supraglottic schwannoma
• tracheostomy