gms | German Medical Science

77. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e. V.

24.05. - 28.05.2006, Mannheim

Unexpected tonsillar carcinoma in sleep apnea patient

Meeting Abstract

Suche in Medline nach

  • corresponding author Jan Plzak - ENT Department, 1st Fac Med, Charles University, Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Jan Klozar - ENT Department, 1st Fac Med, Charles University, Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Michal Zabrodsky - ENT Department, 1st Fac Med, Charles University, Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
  • Jan Betka - ENT Department, 1st Fac Med, Charles University, Prague, Prague, Czech Republic

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie. 77. Jahresversammlung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.. Mannheim, 24.-28.05.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. Doc06hnod411

Die elektronische Version dieses Artikels ist vollständig und ist verfügbar unter: http://www.egms.de/de/meetings/hnod2006/06hnod411.shtml

Veröffentlicht: 24. April 2006

© 2006 Plzak et al.
Dieser Artikel ist ein Open Access-Artikel und steht unter den Creative Commons Lizenzbedingungen (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.de). Er darf vervielfältigt, verbreitet und öffentlich zugänglich gemacht werden, vorausgesetzt dass Autor und Quelle genannt werden.


Gliederung

Text

We report on a case in which tonsillar carcinoma was detected after tonsillectomy for sleep apnea. A man, 53 years old, suffering from moderate obstructive sleep apnea (AHI 29.5) was recommended for the surgical treatment. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty with bilateral tonsillectomy was performed. Perioperative and immediate postoperative course was without extraordinary event. Microscopic examination of the left tonsillectomy specimen revealed the 2 mm nest of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, surrounded by an intact tonsillar tissue. Clinical examination two weeks after the surgery showed an asymmetry of the faucial isthmus with smooth dishing on the left side. MRI described suspected tumorous infiltration of the left pharyngeal wall (2 cm diameter) with enlargement of the regional lymph nodes in the level II. Biopsy from the suspected pharyngeal region under local and later under general anesthesia certified no evidence of malignant cells. Three month after the surgery there was no asymmetry of the pharynx based on both clinical examination and MRI. Sleep study six month after the treatment showed significant reduction of AHI (AHI 8.8). After two years the patient is still with no evidence of disease.

We hypothesize that the postoperative asymmetry of the pharynx could have been caused by inflammatory postoperative healing, although without any patient’s complaints.

In accordance with the literature reports we recommend routine histopathologic examination of tonsillectomy specimens in adults.