Dendritic pigmented cells within human laryngeal mucosa.
Melanocytes were seen within the basal layer of the laryngeal squamous epithelium in a biopsy specimen of the vocal cord. No dendritic pigmented cells were visualized in several sections of the entire mucosa of 15 autopsy specimens of the larynx, but clear, Langerhans-like cells were seen, suggesting that melanocytes in this location may possibly become effete. This may account for the infrequent occurrence of primary malignant melanotic lesions of the larynx.
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D007830:Larynx / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008544:Melanocytes; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000473:pathology