BENIGN KERATOMA OF THE VOCAL CORDS

Benign keratomas are true benign tumors of the vocal cords that are to be differentiated clinically and histologically from malignant, inflammatory and reactive lesions which may also result in superficial keratinization. Clinically, keratomas present as flat, warty or papillary lesions with varying keratinization surrounded by a normal-appearing (''healthy'') epithelium. They are usually unilateral, with their extents varying from 2 to 3 mm in diameter to tumors occupying the entire vocal cord. Histology shows grade I or grade II epithelial hyperplasia without any signs of inflammation. In the present study 61 patients with benign keratomas were treated by excisional biopsies alone. Fifty-seven patients were followed for a minimum of 7 months and a maximum of 16.5 years. Two patients developed recurrent keratomas. To date none of the patients has developed an invasive vocal cord carcinoma or a carcinoma in situ.