[Primary malignant melanoma of the trachea]

The paper gives a case report of the primary malignant melanoma of the trachea in a 61 years old patient with micrometastasis in the right upper lobe of the lung. The diagnosis was made after autopsy. Macroscopically, a polypoid, greyish, partly dark brown tumor was found 6 cm above the tracheal bifurcation on the site of connection between the membranous and cartilaginous part. The tumor was fixed to the trachea wall with a very narrow long stalk, causing long dispnoic attacks worsening in a back lying position particularly. Histologically, both the primary tumor and its secondary deposit in the right lobe were found to have similar appearance as a malignant melanoma elsewhere. Melanin pigment was found in abundance here and there and easily detected already in preparations stained by the hematoxylin--eosin method. The large polypoid tumor caused an obstruction of the trachea and finally suffocation.