COLON ADENOCARCINOMA METASTATIC TO THE LARYNX

Secondary neoplasms of the larynx are rare and account for 0.09 to 0.4 % of all laryngeal tumors, These tumors can occur by hematogenous or l ymphogenous spread and may represent a diagnostic dilemma when the lar yngeal localization is the only manifestation of disease. When multipl e metastases are present, the appropriate treatment becomes even more controversial. To our knowledge only 148 cases of metastatic laryngeal neoplasms have been reported in the literature, with cutaneous melano mas and carcinomas from the kidney representing the most frequent prim ary sites of origin. Our research of the available literature has show n that only nine cases of metastases from colon adenocarcinomas have b een described. In general, the overall prognosis of patients with a se condary laryngeal tumor is poor, since involvement of the larynx by a distant tumor commonly occurs in the terminal phase of the primary dis ease process. As such, the aim of treatment frequently is only to impr ove the quality of life of the patient. We report a case of colon aden ocarcinoma metastatic to the larynx and discuss the problems related t o its pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.