title: Primary malignant melanoma of the epiglottis: a rare presentation.
abstract: Primary malignant melanoma of the epiglottis is extremely rare. Until now, only 4 cases have been reported in the world literature. We describe a new case of epiglottic primary malignant melanoma in a 74-year-old man who presented with hoarseness and a foreign-body sensation. Clinical examination revealed the presence of a small, whitish, polypoid tumor on the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis; no other primary melanoma was detected. Wide excision of the lesion was performed, and microscopy revealed that it contained melanin-pigmented tumor cells in both the mucosa and submucosa. Immunostaining was positive for S-100 protein. The patient was treated with radiotherapy, and he remained well 1 year after the diagnosis with no evidence of recurrence.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. dr_durai@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rajaraman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durai
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hashmi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy