To describe the first published case of superficial angiomyxoma with an epithelial component occurring in the retropharynx.

Case report of a patient with swallowing difficulties caused by a rare case of superficial angiomyxoma in the retropharynx.

Superficial angiomyxoma is a distinct entity among the dermal myxomatous lesions. Superficial angiomyxoma is poorly circumscribed, and local recurrence is common unless the tumour is excised with clear margins. Distinctive histological features include a myxoid mass composed of spindle and stellate-shaped cells and occasional multinucleated cells. There is prominent vasculature and a mixed inflammatory infiltrate in the stroma, particularly by neutrophil polymorphs. Epithelial structures are seen in about one-third of cases. A case of retropharyngeal tumour with morphological features of superficial angiomyxoma is reported. The tumour cells, including multinucleated ones, were negative for soft tissue differentiation markers. The inflammatory cells included lymphocytes, histiocytes and neutrophil polymorphs.

This case demonstrates that a cutaneous type of angiomyxoma with epithelial-lined structures can occur in deep soft tissue, such as the retropharynx.

To review early oncological outcomes following transoral CO2 laser resection of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Retrospective review of hospital electronic database.

Large district general hospital in England, UK.

Patients' three-year disease-specific survival and disease-free survival were evaluated, including post-operative complications, voice quality and swallowing status.

Seventy-seven patients (16 women and 61 men) were identified. Transoral laser excision of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was undergone by 65 patients, and the same procedure in the hypopharynx by 12. Patients with laryngeal cancer had statistically better disease-specific survival than those with hypopharyngeal cancer (p = 0.021), although the cumulative disease-free survival probability was 0.71 for both larynx and hypopharynx groups. Patients who underwent laryngectomy following failed laser treatment or as a salvage procedure had poorer outcomes.

The overall results of this study were comparable with those of other, larger studies. At three-year follow up, cumulative disease-specific survival probabilities were 0.92 and 0.71 for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, respectively.

We report the first documented case in the world literature of primary extra-pulmonary small cell carcinoma occurring in the neopharynx following laryngectomy.

We present a case report and a review of the world literature regarding the management of tumours of the neopharynx and extra-pulmonary small cell carcinoma.

The paucity of cases of extra-pulmonary small cell carcinoma has resulted in many departments managing this neoplasm similarly to pulmonary small cell cancer. However, the site of the primary can have an impact on disease survival and treatment options.

Neopharyngeal small cell carcinoma has not previously been reported. It should be managed in the same way as other extra-pulmonary small cell carcinomas occurring within the pharynx or larynx, with combined multi-drug chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surgery has a limited role due to the aggressiveness of the disease and the high risk of local and distant spread at presentation.

To investigate prognostic factors for survival and locoregional control in patients with stage I–IVA hypopharyngeal cancer treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy.

This study was a retrospective analysis of 108 patients with stage I–IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, treated with laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. Actuarial survival, disease-specific survival and local relapse-free survival were calculated, and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox's proportional hazards model.

After a median follow-up duration of 39 months, the five-year local relapse-free survival rate was 35 per cent for all patients, 66 per cent for those with stage I–II disease, 46 per cent for those with stage III disease and 20 per cent for those with stage IVA disease (p = 0.004). Multivariate analyses showed that tumour and node stages were independent prognostic factors.

Patients with stage I–II disease were suitable for laryngeal preservation radiotherapy. For most patients with stage III–IVA disease, other than those who were T1 N1 or T2 N1, the treatment results were poor.