The presence of melanocytes in the human larynx

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Abstract
During the study of serially sectioned cancerous and irradiated larynges, a unique case of extensive melanosis of the laryngeal mucosa was encountered. While pigmented neoplasms in the larynx had been reported repeatedly, to our knowledge the presence of melanocytes had not been demonstrated at that site; consequently, we initiated a study to ascertain whether melanocytes were present in the human larynx as an explanation for the histogenesis of these neoplasms.We adopted the technique of Epstein for stripping the laryngeal mucosa, and of Nigogosyan and coworkers for embedding and sectioning the ribbons of tissue. In an ongoing study, using non‐selected adult larynges removed at autopsy, scattered foci of melanocytes were found in an appreciable number of Caucasian and Negro specimens. With the Masson‐Fontana silver procedure for melanin, they appear as dendritic cells containing black granular pigment, situated in the basal layer of the squamous epithelium and subjacent connective tissue.While the origin of melanomas from pigment containing cells in the skin, eye and leptomeninges is well established, the histogenesis of those tumors arising in non‐integumentary and extra‐ocular sites remains obscure, because with few exceptions melanocytes have not been demonstrated in these organs.Melanocytes have been observed in the esophagus, oral cavity, vagina, and now larynx. Theories attempting to explain their presence at nonectodermal sites include the migration of melanoblasts with mesoderm to visceral sites, the transformation of neural crest elements into melanocytes and nevus cells, as well as the metaplasia of both squamous and glandular epithelium into pigment producing cells.

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