Primary oat-cell carcinoma of the larynx following supraglottic laryngectomy for squamous-cell carcinoma.

An extremely rare case is reported of a primary oat-cell carcinoma of the larynx in a 70-year-old man who had been treated eight years previously for squamous-cell carcinoma of the larynx by means of supraglottic laryngectomy. A review of the literature revealed only 5 unequivocal previous reports of this primary oat-cell tumor; the present report makes a total of 6 cases. The morphologic pattern, histogenesis and biologic behavior are discussed. The patient of this report was treated by surgical intervention and radiotherapy. He was well, six months later. Only one of the 5 patients previously reported survived for more than a few months. This type of lesion has a poor prognosis because of its tendency to metastasize early to various organs.