Endobronchial metastasis of malignant melanoma, diagnosed by bronchoscopy--report of a case

A rare case of endobronchial melanoma of unknown primary

A 62-year-old man who presented with complaints of cough and hemoptysis was found to have an endobronchial tumor which obstructed the lingular bronchus. Histopathologic examination of a bronchoscopic biopsy of the tumor was consistent with malignant melanoma. Skin, mucosal, and eye examinations failed to detect the primary site of melanoma and the patient was diagnosed with endobronchial melanoma of unknown primary (MUP). Although the patient underwent a curative surgical resection, recurrence was detected in 4 months. Endobronchial MUP is a rare presentation of melanoma and better therapeutic strategies need to be established.

Metastatic melanoma: a rare cause of central airway obstruction

A middle-aged woman with recurrent malignant melanoma presented initially with massive left pleural effusion. There was a complete obliteration of the left main bronchus on flexible bronchoscopy caused by a mass. Serial cryo-debulking of the tumour was done under rigid bronchoscopy; however, the outcome was not favourable due to the aggressive tumour growth. Vemurafenib was planned after thoracic radiation. She was not keen for the biologics treatment due to financial constraints. We report a case of central airway obstruction due to recurrent aggressive melanoma. More evaluations are needed on the role of interventional pulmonologist for bronchoscopic debulking of this rapidly growing tumour as well as the role of biological agents in treating such cases.