Primary fungal laryngitis mimicking recurrent laryngeal carcinoma

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 15; no. 2; p. e245678
• Main Authors: Thomas, Reuben Abraham, Kew, Thean Yean, Mat Baki, Marina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 09-02-2022; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Aged; Antifungal agents; Biopsy; Cancer; Carcinoma; Case reports; Case Reports: Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury; Diabetes; Disease; Dysphagia; Ears & hearing; Fungi; Head & neck cancer; Humans; Laryngeal cancer; Laryngitis - diagnosis; Laryngitis - drug therapy; Laryngoscopy; Larynx; Male; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Ostomy; Patients; Pneumonia; Radiation therapy; Steroids; Tracheotomy; Tuberculosis; Yeast; TB and other respiratory infections; head and neck cancer; Ear; nose and throat/otolaryngology
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-245678

A 79-year-old smoker with a background history of a treated glottic carcinoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presented with progressive hoarseness, symptoms of aspiration and shortness of breath for 6 months. Examination revealed an ulcero-fungating mass over the posterior commissure of the larynx. A tracheostomy, direct laryngoscopy and biopsy of the mass was performed to secure his airway and to exclude recurrent glottic carcinoma. Reassuringly, a histopathological examination of the mass revealed numerous fungal yeast bodies. He was then treated with itraconazole for 4 weeks and was followed up as and outpatient with complete resolution and no recurrence of the disease.