Florid Papillomatosis of the Oral Cavity and Larynx

Squamous-cell papillomas are common epithelial neoplasms of the mouth and larynx. Those of the larynx which occur in children are inherently benign, frequently multiple, and tend to regress at the onset of puberty. It has been suggested, without convincing proof, that these lesions may be viral in nature 1 or related to hormonal influences. 2,3 On the other hand, in the adult such tumors are considered by some to represent premalignant neoplasms. 4-8 Although not generally appreciated, two clinically distinct types of squamous-cell papillomas of orolaryngeal mucous membranes may occur in the adult. The most common is the solitary squamous-cell papilloma which usually does not recur following simple excision and most frequently discloses a papillary pattern of stratified squamous cells covering fibrous stalks of varying thickness without evidence of cellular atypia. That the solitary papillomas may contain foci of anaplastic epithelial change, however, has been emphasized by Altmann and associates.