Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal liposarcoma. A clinicopathologic study of 10 cases with a comparison to soft-tissue counterparts.

We report the clinicopathologic findings of 10 cases of primary laryngeal and hypopharyngeal liposarcoma. The tumors occurred in patients ranging in age from 37 to 77 years. They showed a marked male to female predominance of 9 to 1. The tumors, which occurred exclusively in the supraglottic larynx or hypopharynx (pyriform sinus), caused airway obstruction; this was the most common presenting symptom. All of the cases were well-differentiated liposarcomas (grade I). Atypical cells, scattered lipoblasts, and infiltration differentiated malignant laryngeal fatty tumors from benign ones. To date, none of these tumors has metastasized; however, multiple recurrences are common. Surgery is the treatment of choice; radiotherapy should be decided on an individual basis.