Palliative laser surgery for melanoma metastatic to the larynx: report of two cases.

Melanoma metastatic to the larynx is an extremely rare entity. This paper describes two patients previously treated for cutaneous melanoma who developed recurrent melanoma involving their larynges. Surgical excision of these lesions was accomplished with the carbon dioxide laser. Apparently, these two patients are the first reported cases of successful management of melanoma metastatic to the larynx using laser surgery. The paper also discusses the evolving history and diagnosis of laryngeal melanoma, the use of the carbon dioxide laser in the treatment of other laryngeal and tracheobronchial lesions, the incidence of cutaneous and mucosal melanoma of the head and neck, and the diagnostic evaluation and management of melanoma.