Histopathological Study of Benign Tumours of the Larynx: A Descriptive Study in Coastal Karnataka

A laryngoscopically benign lesion with minimal hoarseness may turn out to be mimickers of malignancy or malignancy itself. Histopathological study is mandatory in such cases to rule out malignancy. A descriptive study of histopathological and laryngoscopic findings of benign laryngeal lesions were studies over a period of 4.5 years. Among the thirty-six patients studied, the mean age of the patients was 42 years. The most common presenting complaint was hoarseness of voice seen in 87.5% of cases. Twelve cases of vocal cord polyps were diagnosed based on clinical, laryngoscopical and histopathological features. Seven cases of vocal cord nodules, presenting with hoarseness of voice and laryngoscopic finding of a small nodular growth over the cord. Nine cases of laryngeal papillomas and papillomatosis showed branching papillae, lined by squamous epithelium with fibrovascular cores. A single case of amyloidosis and four cases of granulomatous lesions suggestive of tuberculosis were studied. One case each of rhabdomyoma and granular cell tumour was reported and confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Rare benign tumours and tumour-like lesions mimicking malignancy on laryngoscopy need histopathological evaluation. It is mandatory to study excised biopsies of the larynx as grossly similar lesions can vary from non-neoplastic to frankly malignant.