Carcinoma and Juvenile Papillomatosis

Abstract

A 41-year-old male presented with a fungating squamous cell carcinoma growing through the skin around his tracheostomy site. His history revealed a long-term laryngeal growth treated only by tracheostomy in 1955. He had been followed intermittently since age 25 and in 1968 a biopsy diagnosis of juvenile papillomatosis was made. This case is outlined until his death and the literature is reviewed concerning malignant changes in papillomatosis with and without radiation treatment. Malignant degeneration is reported in 3–14% of squamous papillomas. Critical histologic evaluation of such lesions is required to establish the diagnosis. When the criteria of maligancy are strictly adhered to, malignant change is considered exceedingly rare.