Laryngeal melanosis: Report of four cases and literature review

OBJECTIVE: Laryngeal melanosis is a rare condition defined by the presence of melanocytes within the laryngeal epithelial lining. Our aims were (1) to review our cases together with those in the literature, and (2) to determine whether melanocyte incidence is increased with exposure to irritant stimuli such as tobacco.METHODS: A retrospective study of all cases diagnosed with laryngeal melanosis in our hospital from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 1996, was accomplished. To determine the melanocyte incidence in the normal larynx as well as the influence of tobacco in development of laryngeal melanosis, 16 age-matched controls, 8 of whom were smokers and 8 of whom were not, were chosen, and a histochemical and immunohistochemical study was performed. The following antibodies were used: S-100 protein, CD1a, and HMB-45. A comparative study of the melanocyte incidence between patients with laryngeal melanosis and the controls was carried out. Also, a comparative study between smoking and nonsmoking patients was performed.RESULTS: Laryngeal melanosis was diagnosed in 4 patients at our hospital during this period of time. In the comparative study, the number of melanocytes in the 4 patients with laryngeal melanosis was higher than in the 8 smoking ( p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U test) and 8 nonsmoking ( p < 0.01) controls, and there was a trend toward a higher number of melanocytes in the 8 smoking patients than in the 8 nonsmoking ( p = 0.064) controls.CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal melanosis was more frequent in smoking men older than 50 years. Our observations underline the association of LM with larynx carcinoma and its relation to a stimulus such as tobacco. In fact, we have found activated melanocytes in our cases of laryngeal melanosis. They were identified by immunoreactivity for HMB-45. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997;117:708-12.)