[The Ljubljana classification of epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions]

Epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions caused by pathogenic factors injuring the mucosa may contain reactive and/or preneoplastic histological changes. The grading system devised and tested in Ljubljana comprises simple hyperplasia (benign spinous layer augmentation), abnormal hyperplasia (benign basal and parabasal layer augmentation), atypical hyperplasia (risky for malignancy) and carcinoma in situ (actually malignant, but without invasion). In addition to making the diagnosis this classification is appropriate to evaluate the potential of any particular abnormality for progression into carcinoma. So it helps the clinician not only in planning the therapy and follow-up, but to assess the prognosis as well.