First clinical experiences with hormone-therapy of pachydermia laryngis.

First clinical experiences with the anti-androgenic drug cyproterone-acetate in treatment of pachydermia laryngis are reported in eleven male and female patients. This endocrine therapy led to complete healing in four and to marked improvement in six patients. One did not respond. Evaluation of the endocrine state of these patients showed imbalance in the androgen/estrogen equilibrium. As the larynx constitutes a secondary sex characteristic and an endocrine target organ, the significance of endocrine factors for pathogenesis and therapy of epithelial changes on the vocal cords is discussed.