Premalignant lesions of the larynx: pathological prognostic factors.

Eighty-seven precancerous lesions of the larynx were studied; 46 showed keratosis, 31 slight dysplasias, five severe dysplasias, and five carcinomas in situ. The average follow-up was 3.8 years per patient, and malignant degeneration was observed in nine of them (10.3%). This arose on a pre-existing dysplasia in eight cases, and in the other on a hyperkeratosis. Dyskeratosis was observed in 12 cases, half of which degenerated, this being the group of worst prognosis.