Lymphoma recurrence presenting as vocal cord fixation

Lymphomas of the larynx are a rare finding. Those with lymphoma of the larynx often present with symptoms such as vocal hoarseness, throat pain, dysphagia, and weight loss. This is a case of a 74-year-old man who presents with new onset of hoarseness and dysphagia. He has a previous history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) but was thought to be in remission at the time of presentation. On nasolaryngoscopy, there was a large, right sided, sub-mucosal mass with right vocal cord fixation. Physical exam and computed topography of the neck did not identify any adenopathy. Biopsy confirmed the recurrence of DLBCL isolated to the larynx at the time of diagnosis. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and fully recovered his vocal cord motion with resolution of his hoarseness and dysphagia. Physicians should consider lymphoma in patients presenting with laryngeal complaints especially in patients with a history of lymphoma.