Laryngeal cysts: clinical relevance of a modified working classification

Laryngeal cysts from 72 patients were examined and reclassified according to a modified working classification. In this series, 47 patients (66 per cent) had epithelial cysts, 11 patients (15 per cent) oncocytic cysts and 14 patients (19 per cent) tonsillar cysts. Epithelial cysts were commonest in the region of the epiglottis (20/47) and laryngeal ventricle (24/47). Oncocytic cysts tended to lie in the region of the ventricle whereas tonsillar cysts occurred almost exclusively in the valleculae, epiglottis and pyriform region (13/14). The authors conclude that the modified working classification of laryngeal cysts is easy to apply, of clinical relevance, and allows classification of cysts where operative trauma to the specimen obscures the relationship of the cyst to the surface epithelium. The origin and significance of tonsillar cysts are discussed and a relationship to the lympho-epithelial cyst of the oral cavity is suggested.