Background: Laryngeal dysplasia represents a complex pre-malignant condition characterised by a spectrum of mucosal changes, with a reported malignant transformation rate from dysplasia to invasive carcinoma of 14.0 per cent.
Objective: To identify whether increasing glottic dysplasia severity is associated with higher local malignant transformation rates or adverse clinical outcomes.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified 125 patients with any histopathological grade of glottic dysplasia over a 10-year period who were followed up for a standardised 10-year period.
Results: The malignant transformation rate was 21.8 per cent over 10 years, demonstrating a statistically significant greater risk with increasing dysplasia severity. The mean time to transformation was 52 months, with time to transformation statistically associated with increasing dysplasia severity. Rapid progression to carcinoma within 12 months occurred in 40 per cent of cases, and 58 per cent of subsequently diagnosed laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas were tumour stage T1.
Conclusion: Laryngeal dysplasia carries a significant malignant potential, appearing greatest within 12 months of diagnosis and with increasing severity of dysplasia.
Keywords: Epithelium; Laryngeal Neoplasms; Larynx; Precancerous Conditions; Vocal Cords.