title: Primary malignant melanoma of the trachea.
abstract: Tracheal melanomas represent the rarest type of extracutaneous melanomas. The clinical manifestation is similar to other tracheal tumors and ranges from symptoms of airway obstruction such as dyspnea and stridor to other nonspecific symptoms such as hoarseness, cough and hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy is required to draw the origin of the lesion biopsy is needed to establish histologic diagnosis. Treatment consists of either palliative surgery aiming at restoring the airway or tracheal resection and end to end anastmosis. We would like to present here below a rare case of tracheal melanoma and discuss the various diagnostic and therapeutic means.
authors.affiliation: American University of Beirut Medical Center.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nattout
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fuleihan
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sabra
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aburizk
authors.forename: Abdul-Latif
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hamdan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014134:Tracheal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery