A patient with a laryngeal tumor may suffer sudden death.
Mechanism of death: usually asphyxia from airway obstruction by the tumor. Theoretically there may be other causes such as tenacious secretions, massive hemorrhage or vagal stimulation.
Clinical features:
(1) sudden death
(2) presence of a laryngeal tumor of sufficient size in an appropriate location to explain death
(3) exclusion of an alternative diagnosis
The laryngeal tumor may be symptomatic or suspected prior to death, but it can also be occult.
Some of the laryngeal tumors associated with sudden death:
(1) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
(2) laryngeal polyp
(3) laryngeal inflammatory pseudotumor
(4) cavernous hemangioma
(5) laryngeal papillomatosis
(6) oncocytic cystadenoma
(7) laryngeal cyst
(8) pedunculated schwannoma
