Nonepithelial tumors of the larynx: Single-institution 13-year review with radiologic-pathologic correlation

Nonepithelial tumors of the larynx are rare and represent a minor-ity of all laryngeal neoplasms. Imaging has an important role in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and surveillance of these entities. However, unfamiliarity with these neoplasms can cause diagnostic difficulties for radiologists, especially because many of the imaging findings are nonspecific. By using a systematic approach based on clinical history, patient age and gender, lesion location, endoscopic results, and specific imaging findings, the differential diagnosis can often be narrowed. These tumors typically affect the submucosal layer, so if a tumor has an intact mucosa at endoscopy, a nonepithe-lial neoplasm is the most likely diagnosis. Nonepithelial tumors of the larynx can arise from the laryngeal cartilage or muscle or from the surrounding lymphoid tissue or blood vessels. Consequently, imaging findings typically correspond to the specific cell type from which it originated. Recognizing specific features (eg, metaplastic bone formation, macroscopic fat, or enhancement pattern) can often help narrow the differential diagnosis. In addition, identification of noncir-cumscribed borders of the lesion and invasion of the adjacent structures is key to diagnosis of a malignant process rather than a benign neoplasm. Understanding the pathologic correlation is fundamental to understanding the radiologic manifestations and is ultimately cru-cial for differentiation of nonepithelial laryngeal neoplasms.