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Verrucous squamous cell carcinoma is a rare type of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with a characteristic morphologic appearance and specific clinical behavior. It has been claimed that this tumor may undergo dedifferentiation after radiotherapy; this will result in a more aggressive behavior. From 1968 to 1980, we have diagnosed and treated 569 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. Fourteen of them were reported to exhibit verrucous features macroscopically. These tumors were histopathologically reexamined. All 569 cases were stratified with regard to tumor stage (≤T2 N0 M0) and treatment (irradiation). Six patients of 340 were then diagnosed as having verrucous squamous cell carcinomas, according to the Ackerman criteria. The patients were followed for at least 5 years and regional metastases of poorly differentiated carcinoma developed in at least two patients in the verrucous carcinoma group within 2 1/2 years after full-dose irradiation. Among the patients with nonverrucous carcinoma, this frequency was estimated to be 3%. This study provides evidence that metastatic spread that occurs after irradiation is approximately 10 times more frequent (p< 0.05) for T1–2 laryngeal verrucous carcinomas, as compared to the common type of squamous cell carcinoma.

To evaluate the hypothesis of CNS involvement in Bell's palsy, the auditory brain stem responses (ABR) of 31 patients were studied. In nine of these patients ABR abnormalities were found. None of these patients showed evidence of dysfunction of the cochlear nerve. Six of the patients who had abnormal ABR were retested after they recovered from the facial paresis. Five of these patients showed persistent ABR abnormality, and one showed a normalization of the ABR. These results may be consistent with an injury at the brain stem level in some patients with Bell's palsy. The possible causative agent of a reactivation of a herpes simplex virus infection is discussed.

Verrucous squamous cell carcinoma is a rare type of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with a characteristic morphologic appearance and specific clinical behavior. It has been claimed that this tumor may undergo dedifferentiation after radiotherapy; this will result in a more aggressive behavior. From 1968 to 1980, we have diagnosed and treated 569 squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx. Fourteen of them were reported to exhibit verrucous features macroscopically. These tumors were histopathologically reexamined. All 569 cases were stratified with regard to tumor stage (=T2 N0 M0) and treatment (irradiation). Six patients of 340 were then diagnosed as having verrucous squamous cell carcinomas, according to the Ackerman criteria. The patients were followed for at least 5 years and regional metastases of poorly differentiated carcinoma developed in at least two patients in the verrucous carcinoma group within 2 1/2 years after full-dose irradiation. Among the patients with nonverrucous carcinoma, this frequency was estimated to be 3%. This study provides evidence that metastatic spread that occurs after irradiation is approximately 10 times more frequent (p< 0.05) for T1–2 laryngeal verrucous carcinomas, as compared to the common type of squamous cell carcinoma.

To evaluate the hypothesis of CNS involvement in Bell's palsy, the auditory brain stem responses (ABR) of 31 patients were studied. In nine of these patients ABR abnormalities were found. None of these patients showed evidence of dysfunction of the cochlear nerve. Six of the patients who had abnormal ABR were retested after they recovered from the facial paresis. Five of these patients showed persistent ABR abnormality, and one showed a normalization of the ABR. These results may be consistent with an injury at the brain stem level in some patients with Bell's palsy. The possible causative agent of a reactivation of a herpes simplex virus infection is discussed.