Metastatic neoplasms to the larynx: report of three cases

Metastatic involvement of the larynx by distant malignancies is a rare event that can occur by hematogenous or lymphogenous spread through a retrograde or anterograde route. Only 143 cases of secondary laryngeal tumors have been reported in the literature. Metastases from cutaneous melanoma and renal carcinoma are the most common, whereas only sporadic cases stemming from lung and colon adenocarcinoma have been documented. The authors report a case of lung adenocarcinoma and two cases of colonic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the larynx and discuss the problems related to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of secondary laryngeal neoplasms.