Typical carcinoid tumour of the larynx is extremely rare. We report the case of a 43-year-old man initially diagnosed with typical carcinoid tumour of the larynx, presenting with a foreign body sensation in his throat. Coincidentally, an occult papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed, following detection of a suspicious lymph node on pre-operative imaging studies, and confirmation by neck dissection and subsequent total thyroidectomy. Following surgery and radioiodine therapy for these cancers, the patient was alive, well and free of disease two years later. Typical carcinoid tumour of the larynx with a synchronous occult papillary thyroid carcinoma has not previously been reported. The optimal treatment strategy for this case is also discussed.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx have been divided into those of epithelial or neural origin. The latter consist of paragangliomas while the epithelial origin group can be divided into the typical and atypical carcinoids and small cell neuroendocrine carcinomata, the latter consisting of the oat cell type, the intermediate cell type and the combined cell type. There are now over 500 cases of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx in the literature.

The diagnosis is primarily based on light microscopy, and, in some instances, it may be supported by special histochemical studies. It should be confirmed by immunocytochemical and/or ultrastructural investigation. The different biological behaviour of neuroendocrine neoplasms of the larynx makes a specific diagnosis of paramount importance, since treatment depends on diagnostic accuracy.

Typical carcinoid is an extremely rare lesion. It is treated preferably by conservative surgery; elective neck dissection is not necessary because of the lack of lymph node metastases at diagnosis. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy have not been effective in the limited number of patients treated thus far. Prognosis is excellent with cure following surgery.

Atypical carcinoid is the most frequent non-squamous carcinoma of the larynx. The mainstay of treatment is surgery. Elective neck dissection should be performed because of the high likelihood of cervical lymph node metastases. Primary radiation therapy with adjuvant chemotherapy is not indicated. The survival rate is 48 per cent at five years and 30 per cent at 10 years.

Although the larynx is one of its most common extrapulmonary sites, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is still a rare tumour. Surgical results for this tumour have been disappointing and is reserved for cases of local relapse with no evidence of metastasis. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy currently appear to offer the least disabling and most effective forms of therapy. The two- and five-year survival rates are 16 per cent and five per cent, respectively.

Paraneoplastic syndromes have occasionally been reported in association with carcinoid tumours (typical and atypical) and small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. There have been also rare reports of an elevated neuropeptide serum level.

Paraganglioma is the only laryngeal neuroendocrine neoplasm with a female preponderance (3:1). Confusion with atypical carcinoid has led to incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate classification schemes, erroneously suggesting that laryngeal paraganglioma has the potential for aggressive behaviour. Conservative surgery represents the treatment of choice; elective neck dissection is not necessary, and the prognosis is excellent.

Tumour metastases to the tonsil are rare and are usually due to spread from malignant melanoma and carcinomas of the breast, lung, kidney or stomach. We describe the clinical and histological findings of a tonsillar metastasis from a malignant pulmonary carcinoid tumour, an occurrence not previously reported.

A case of atypical carcinoid tumour of the larynx in a 72-year-old woman is presented. The neoplasm was located in the supraglottic region and was first manifest by metastases to the scalp. The presence of amyloid-like material and calcitonin-positive cells were features that resembled medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Clinically, it pursued an aggressive course that led to death 58 months after diagnosis. The literature is reviewed, particularly that regarding the differential diagnosis.

The case of an atypical carcinoid tumour of the larynx is described in a 65-year-old man. Thisrare tumour may present diagnostic difficulties, but the diagnosis should be considered in a patient presenting with symptoms of local or referred pain and an apparently small, non-ulcerating supraglottic tumour. Immunocytochemistry has an important role in establishing the diagnosis. A very unusual feature of this case was positive staining for S-100 protein by sustentacular cells. Atypical carcinoid tumours do not respond well to radiotherapy so the primary treatment should be surgical resection.

A 63-year-old woman presented with a history of increasing dysphagia of about two weeks duration. Laryngoscopy revealed a nonulcerated supraglottic epitheliomatous lesion that morphologically appeared well-differentiated and distinctly oncocytoid. Although the tumour lacked any criteria for malignancy such as cellular atypia, pleomorphism or necroses, it recurred twice after primary surgery and later gave rise to multiple painful skin metastases. The diagnosis of an oncocytoid differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx (laryngeal carcinoid) was made. Misinterpretation of laryngeal carcinoids is common, but can be avoided if one is familiar with this rare variant of laryngeal neoplasms

Three years following a right lower lobectomy for primary carcinoid tumour of the bronchus, a patient presented with bilateral parotid masses. On investigation, both these were shown to be carcinoid tumours, consistent with metastatic spread from the primary bronchial tumour. This unique case is presented together with a discussion of the diagnostic methods employed.