Chondroid tumors of the larynx: a clinicopathologic study of 19 cases, including two dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas.

We studied 19 cases of chondroid tumors of the larynx: two chondrometaplastic nodules, two chondromas and 15 chondrosarcomas (including two dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas). One of chondromas recurred 18 months after resection because of inadequate surgical treatment. Chondrosarcomas were separated as low-grade (nine cases), intermediate (three cases), high-grade (one case), and dedifferentiated (two cases) according to histologic appearance. Chondrosarcomas are nearly always histologically low grade, make up the largest numbers of the neoplasms, and arise from the cricoid cartilage. Conservative surgical management, when possible, is advocated to preserve the larynx. Chondrometaplastic nodules are to be distinguished from chondrosarcoma and the rarely occurring chondroma. The nodules are not neoplastic and have a low to nil recurrent potential.