NECROTIZING SIALOMETAPLASIA OF THE LARYNX - A REPORT OF 2 CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Two cases of necrotizing sialometaplasia of the larynx are reported. One of the cases occurred in the subglottic larynx: of a 37-year-old woman and the other occurred in the right false vocal cord of a 59-year-old man. In both of the cases, the sialometaplasia was identified in association with another pathologic process. The female patient presented with dysphagia, Excisional biopsy was performed twice in the span of an 8-day period. Both biopsy specimens showed fibrosis. The subglottic stenosis was felt to be of undetermined origin. There was evidence of necrotizing sialometaplasia in only the second biopsy material, Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed as having relapsing polychondritis, the probable cause of the subglottic stenosis. The male patient presented with increasing hoarseness and was found to have a mass of the right false vocal cord. Biopsy of the mass,vas diagnostic for a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with separate foci of necrotizing sialometaplasia. In both cases, it appears that the sialometaplasia occurred secondary to the other pathologic processes with the likely pathogenesis the result of vascular compromise to the affected area.