Vocal cord polyps: biochemical and histologic evaluation.

The stratified squamous epithelium covering vocal cord polyps can vary from normal to hyperplastic and keratinized. We have analyzed the histology and cytokeratins of 11 of these polyps. Cytokeratins were separated on one-dimensional SDS-acrylamide gels to determine molecular weights. There was significant heterogeneity in the cytokeratins present in the different polyps. Comparison of histologic findings and cytokeratin content showed a correlation between extent of keratinization and presence of high molecular weight cytokeratins. We conclude that the epithelium of vocal cord polyps exhibit patterns of cytokeratins characteristic of both hyperproliferation and abnormal states of differentiation, which are mirrored by histologic variations, and that vocal cord polyps are a heterogeneous group of benign lesions.