SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Tracheal Chondrosarcoma: A Rare Case of Chronic Voice Hoarseness Misdiagnosed as Gerd

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This case report describes a 45-year-old man with a history of former tobacco use who presented with 3 years of worsening hoarseness that had initially been misdiagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). He was treated with proton pump inhibitors without benefit. A CT scan of the neck later revealed a well-defined lesion involving the right posterior cricoid cartilage, suspicious for chondrosarcoma, and laryngoscopy showed a smooth submucosal mass in the right posterior subglottis. The patient then did not return for follow-up until 5 years later, when he developed dysphagia, exertional dyspnea, wheezing, and a 35-lb weight loss over 2 years. Repeat imaging showed a much larger laryngeal mass causing severe airway narrowing, and laryngoscopy confirmed a grade 1 T3 chondrosarcoma.<br /><br />He underwent elective tracheostomy, followed by partial laryngectomy, right thyroid lobectomy, and cartilage resection. His airway and swallowing were later managed with laryngeal reconstruction using an osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap, PEG tube placement, and more recently PEG removal with a smaller tracheal tube. He also had multiple laser resections for recurrent benign vocal cord polyps and is currently on chronic steroids.<br /><br />The report emphasizes that tracheal and laryngeal chondrosarcomas are extremely rare malignancies. They often remain asymptomatic until they significantly obstruct the airway, and common symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and wheezing can lead to misdiagnosis as asthma or COPD. In this patient, chronic hoarseness was incorrectly attributed to GERD, highlighting the need for thorough evaluation of persistent voice changes. Because treatment guidelines are limited by the rarity of these tumors, additional case reports are important for improving understanding of presentation and management.

Asset Subtitle

Brihant Sharma

Meta Tag

Author List Ajinkya Buradkar, Andalib Hossain, Brihant Sharma, Sandra Rabat, Suyansh Sharma

Category Clinical Vignettes

Concept Hoarseness

Concept Tracheal Chondrosarcoma

Concept Computed Tomography

Concept Laryngoscopy

Concept Airway Malignancy

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education

Presenting Author Brihant Sharma

Track Adult

Keywords

laryngeal chondrosarcoma

tracheal chondrosarcoma

hoarseness

airway obstruction

dysphagia

dyspnea

laryngoscopy

partial laryngectomy

cricoid cartilage lesion

misdiagnosis GERD

Hoarseness

Tracheal Chondrosarcoma

Computed Tomography

Laryngoscopy

Airway Malignancy