A histochemical study of simple laryngeal polyps.

Abstract

SUMMARY Benign laryngeal polyps and normal larynxes have been studied by histochemical and other staining methods. These show that the polyps contain much free hyaluronic acid and 6-chondroitin sulphate. Their mode of production may be the mechanical separation of these compounds from collagen fibres by vibration. An alcian-elastic stain may be a helpful diagnostic method. Received for publication 3 January 1980 who presented with hoarseness of voice was also available.All the polyps had been diagnosed independently as showing characteristic histological features of the lesion, including vascular proliferation, fibrosis, or a myxoid appearance of the underlying stroma.The specimens were all fixed for 24 hours in Lillie's buffered formalin, post-fixed for 16 hours in formol-corrosive, dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in toluene, and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections were cut at 6 /im. Sections were stained by the following methods:9 alcian blue at pH 0-2, 10, and 2-5; alcian blue at pH 2-5 after treatment with hyaluronidase; alcian blue/aldehyde fuchsin and alcian blue/PAS at pH 2-5, and Weigert's elastic stain. Additionally, some sections were stained with Congo red for amyloid and by the martius scarlet blue (MSB) technique for fibrin.