The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prognosis of laryngeal adenoid-cystic carcinoma

Objectives Laryngeal adenoid-cystic carcinoma (LACC) is sporadic, especially if supraglottic. This study aimed to show a rare case of supraglottic LACC with a late diagnosis due to COVID-19 era. Materials and methods This study followed the Institutional Review Board standards from Sapienza University of Rome. Patient’s relatives signed informed consent to share anonymous data in the article. Results In 2021 a 70 years old no smoker female patient went to the emergency room with stridor, dyspnea, and hoarseness with bilateral vocal folds paralysis. Tracheostomy and laryngeal biopsies were performed that confirmed a LACC. During hospitalization a pneumonia began. Despite the treatments, pulmonary condition deteriorated resulting in death. A total body CT scan with contrast showed a glottic mass and the cervical nodes volume increase. Partial laryngectomy (OPHL II B), bilateral selective neck dissection and radiotherapy were considered. Those therapies have not been carried out because of the bad general condition.3 Three months later CT scans showed earliest lung metastasis. In 2019 patient hoarseness arose. No abnormalities were found by laryngoscopy and laryngeal biopsies. A strictly follow-up was suggested but she did not follow recommendations due to COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic worsened the presenting stage of many cancers and impacted their prognosis badly.4 The presenting case had a rapidly deadly course, surely due to COVID-19 that impacted the prognosis of this rare glottic ACC.