Revista de otología y rinología

Laryngeal Cancer in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Shintaro Yoshihara, Takahiro Asakage, Yuki Saito, Takaharu Nito, Jun Shimizu, Shoji Tsuji and Tatsuya Yamasoba

Laryngeal Cancer in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

We present the case of a 75-year-old male patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who developed laryngeal cancer. He was diagnosed as having ALS with progressive bulbar symptoms at the age of 67, and underwent glottis closure and tracheostomy at the age of 71 to prevent aspiration. At the time, he could only move his eyes and toes and was totally dependent on a mechanical ventilator. At the age of 75, he showed swelling and redness around the tracheostoma and was diagnosed as having laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, T4aN0M0. Total laryngectomy was performed with skin reconstruction using a delto-pectoral flap. Because of the recent improvement in the prognosis of ALS, it is important to consider appropriate treatment strategies for ALS patients with other fatal complications or diseases based on their will and quality of life.