Melanoma of the larynx

Primary laryngeal melanomas (LM) are rare. In a review of all mucosal melanomas of the head and neck (MMHN) at Memorial Hospital from 1949 to 1983 we identified only three such cases. Review of the literature shows that LM usually involve the supraglottic larynx of elderly males. Although survival is as poor as for other MMHN, local recurrence is less frequent, even when primary therapy consists of more conservative surgical procedures than total laryngectomy.