Verruca vulgaris of the larynx

Two adult males had superficial, keratotic vocal cord lesions. One was diagnosed as verrucous carcinoma, prompting a hemilaryngectomy. The other was interpreted as a squamous papilloma and was treated by local excision. Both patients are disease-free 7 years and 18 months, respectively, following surgery. The histologic features of both lesions are identical to those of cutaneous verruca vulgaris, and immunoperoxidase staining for human papilloma virus was positive in one case. Laryngcal verruca vulgaris has not been previously described and in the past may have been misdiagnosed as verrucous carcinoma, leading to unnecessary surgery. The histologic features of Ihryngeal verruca vulgaris are presented and its distinction from other cytologically bland, keratotic lesions of the larynx is discussed.