Immunohistochemical Study of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Severe Dysplasia and Carcinoma in situ of the Vocal Cords

The presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was studied in laryngeal biopsy specimens from 14 patients, all with severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ. All 14 cases showed positive immunoreaction for EGFR. In 5 of the specimens there were also areas with moderate dysplasia, 3 of which showed scattered EGFR positive cells, whilst 2 were negative. In 8 biopsy specimens there were areas with mild dysplasia, but none of them showed any positive immunoreaction for EGFR. Thus EGFR is present in laryngeal severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, indicating the potential malignant neoplastic nature of these lesions. The immunostaining for EGFR may be used as an aid to differentiate between severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (Group III lesions), moderate (Group II lesions) and mild dysplasia (Group I lesions).