Advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in an adolescent: A case and treatment considerations

TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case of advanced laryngeal cancer in a 16-year-old and emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis and shared decision-making in treatment.

Contribution

The novelty lies in highlighting the scarcity of pediatric laryngeal SCCa cases and the need for collaborative treatment decisions in adolescents.

Findings

Only 16 cases of pediatric laryngeal SCCa have been reported in medical literature.

Shared decision-making is crucial for curative treatment in adolescent cancer patients.

Early suspicion and timely tissue sampling are vital for diagnosing rare pediatric malignancies.

Abstract

Pediatric laryngeal SCCa is a rare malignancy in childhood. High index of suspicion is critical to obtain timely tissue sample and diagnosis. Shared decision making is important when choosing treatment modalities for curative management, especially when working with adolescent patients.

Here we present a case report of a 16‐year old patient who presented with what appeared to be a vocal cord hematoma after shouting at a sporting event, which after careful monitoring and eventual intervention was determined to be advanced squamous cell carcinoma. Only 16 reports of pediatric SCCa have ever been reported. This case report highlights the paucity of guidelines in children and focuses on shared decision making with both the patient and family.

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