Laryngeal granuloma occurring after surgery for laryngeal cancer treated by surgical removal and immediate post-operative radiotherapy: A case report

RATIONAL: Laryngeal granulomas are benign lesion that rarely occurs after surgery of laryngeal cancer. Until now there has not been standard treatment for it. PATIENT CONCERN: The patient was diagnosed with laryngeal neoplasm one and half a month ago. Endoscopic low-temperature plasma knife in the radical excision of left vocal cord was performed under the general anesthesia. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed left vocal cord tumor was highly differentiated invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Then the patient suffered unexplained intermittent dyspnea which persisted nearly 1 month after the surgery. Laryngoscope examination showed granulation formation on the glottis. DIAGNOSES: The patient was diagnosed with laryngeal granuloma 1 month after the surgery of laryngeal cancer. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received resection of the laryngeal mass, and pathological examination confirmed the granuloma. Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) was performed within 24 hours after surgery. OUTCOMES: The patient was followed up for 3 years after surgery and the laryngeal granuloma and laryngeal cancer did not recur during follow-up. The symptoms of intermittent dyspnea disappeared and a satisfactory outcome was achieved. LESSONS: Usually for primary laryngeal granulomas, surgical treatment alone is not enough, because it is easy to relapse. RT within 24 hours after operation can significantly reduce the recurrence of laryngeal granuloma.