Oncocytic lesions of the larynx

True laryngeal adenomas are considered extremely rare and some doubt their existence. Laryngeal lesions having oncocytes as the predominant cell type have been described in the literature under a variety of different names: oncocytoma, oncocytic papillary cystadenoma, papillary cystadenoma, oxyphilic granular cells adenoma, etc. The oncocytes originate from changes in normal acinic and ductal cells. The significance of these changes is controversial. Whether the oncocytic laryngeal lesions represent true neoplasms or are degenerative in nature remains to be determined. We present clinical and histopathological details of four cases of oncocytic lesions of the larynx and compare their histology with microscopic findings in 30 cases filed as laryngeal cysts at the Minneapolis V.A. and University of Minnesota Hospitals. While the controversy regarding the neoplastic versus degenerative etiology of these lesions could not be resolved from a histopathological standpoint, their clinical behavior is that of a benign neoplasm. We review the literature on the subject and suggest a course of treatment for these lesions.