EPITHELIAL HYPERPLASTIC LESIONS OF THE LARYNX IN BIOPSY SPECIMENS

Surgical biopsy files for the period 1991-92 were reviewed to determin e the relative proportion and types of epithelial hyperplastic lesions of the larynx as well as sex and age distribution and correlation bet ween clinical and histopathological diagnoses. In this period 203 lary ngeal biopsies from 187 patients were analyzed. Epithelial hyperplasti c lesions were found in 42 males and 9 females. There were 39 cases wi th keratosis and 12 cases showing keratosis with atypia. Correlation b etween clinical diagnoses and pathohistological findings was establish ed in only 5 cases (9.8%), clinically diagnosed as leukoplakia; an add itional 5 cases (9.8%) were clinically diagnosed as chronic laryngitis . The majority of clinical diagnoses in cases with epithelial hyperpla stic lesions were laryngeal neoplasm (29, 56.9%) followed by laryngeal polyp in 9 cases (17.6%). We conclude that for correct diagnosis the biopsy should be performed in all patients with clinical symptoms show ing laryngoscopic alterations that suggest a potentially malignant les ion.