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Respiratory medicine
Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma disguised as asthma
  1. Jason Corcoran1,
  2. Ty Merry2,
  3. Kabeer Ali2 and
  4. Pramod Reddy2
  1. 1 Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, Alabama, USA
  2. 2 Internal Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Kabeer Ali; kabeer.ali{at}jax.ufl.edu

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with laryngeal involvement can lead to significant airway obstruction and compromise. This case report details a female patient in her 60s with a history of asthma who presented with refractory dyspnoea and persistent hoarseness, initially attributed to asthma. After multiple emergency room visits and treatment with bronchodilators and steroids, further investigation revealed an exophytic mass in the larynx, diagnosed as SCC. Despite normal pulmonary function tests, imaging indicated significant airway narrowing. The patient underwent a tracheostomy to secure her airway and was subsequently referred for curative surgery. This case underscores the importance of considering HNSCC in patients with unexplained respiratory symptoms, regardless of smoking history, and highlights the need for thorough investigation to prevent complications from advanced disease. Early multidisciplinary intervention is crucial in managing such cases effectively.

  • Asthma
  • Dysphonia
  • Respiratory system
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Lung function

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2024-264064

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    Footnotes

    • X @N/A

    • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting the text, sourcing and editing clinical images and investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms and critically revising for important intellectual content: JC, TM, KA and PR. KA is the guarantor. The following authors gave the final approval of the manuscript: JC, TM, KA and PR.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.