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 lymphogenous spread and may represent a diagnostic dilemma when the laryngeal localization is the only manifestation of disease. When multiple 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 melanomas and carcinomas from the kidney representing the most frequent primary sites of origin. Our research of the available literature has shown that only nine cases of metastases from colon adenocarcinomas have been described. In general, the overall prognosis of patients with a secondary laryngeal tumor is poor, since involvement of the larynx by a distant tumor commonly occurs in the terminal phase of the primary disease process. As such, the aim of treatment frequently is only to improve the quality of life of the patient. We report a case of colon adenocarcinoma metastatic to the larynx and discuss the problems related to its pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.