The purpose of this work is to review the current knowledge of laryngeal
pathology in the light of my experience at the Institute of Laryngology
and Otology, London. The role of histopathological investigations in the
care of patients with diseases of the larynx is given special
consideration. Radiologi- cal study of the larynx has become more
refined in recent years with the introduction of computerised
tomography. Microlaryngoscopy with biopsy of the interior of the larynx
is now a frequent procedure in the diagnosis of laryngeal disease. In
the effort to interpret the findings resulting from these methods, the
need for a monograph outlining the pathological basis of laryngeal
disorders has arisen. To the best of my knowledge, such a work, devoted
to the pathology of the larynx only, has never been written; a modern
study in this field is certainly not available. I have aimed the text
towards the practising pathologist in order to give it the broadest
scope. It was necessary, therefore, to include an account of the basic
anatomy of the larynx. For this purpose (and in subsequent descriptions
throughout the book) I have not used the formal anatomical terminology
for the two folds on either side of the ventricle of the larynx. There
is some variation in the use of these terms, and they are not yet
completely in general use.