Relapsing paraganglioma of the inferior laryngeal paraganglion: Case report and review of the literature

Background Laryngeal paragangliomas are very rare neoplasms derived from the superior or inferior laryngeal paraganglia. The paragangliomas of the inferior laryngeal paraganglion, depending on their anatomic variability, can give rise to two different clinical expressions of the same process, namely the so‐called thyroid paragangliomas and the inferior laryngeal or subglottic paragangliomas. Methods We present a case for which we have not found any previous descriptions of a cervical and subglottictracheal relapse of a thyroid paraganglioma removed 3 years earlier. We review the literature. Results We have found a total of 22 paragangliomas of the inferior laryngeal paraganglia, 23 including our case. Conclusions Thyroid paragangliomas and inferior laryngeal or subglottic paragangliomas should be included under the term “paragangliomas” of the inferior laryngeal paraganglion. These tumors are slow growing, benign, hypervascular, and much more common in middle‐aged women. Immunohistochemistry is essential for its diagnosis. Open, conservative surgery is the treatment of choice. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 24: 95–102, 2002.