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The results of this study showed that allergy is an important factor in the etiopathogenesis of laryngeal mucosal lesions. Despite adequate treatment, no other unfavourable factors appeared to have significant influence on the results of the treatment. It seems that hypersensitivity to different inhalatory and nutritional allergens make laryngeal mucosa more susceptible for adverse action of other factors: vocal misuse, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), smoking, irritants in the surrounding microclimate, endocrinologic disorders, etc. Acting together, all these factors cause the development of laryngeal mucosal lesions. In the treatment of noninfectious laryngitis, vocal cord nodules, polyps or Reinke's edema, all the stated adverse factors should be identified and suitably diminished or eliminated. Allergy (Ig-E-mediated and non-IgE-mediated) should be considered as only one of the etiopathogenetic factors.

Differences in autofluorescence between normal and malignant tissues offer new possibilities for detecting and localizing early laryngeal carcinomas. In the present study imaging was performed using a specially designed device that exploits differences in fluorescent properties of normal and cancerous tissues without photodynamic drugs. Fluorescence was induced by helium-cadmium laser, captured by an image-intensified camera and displayed on a video monitor after previous computerization. 40 patients were evaluated, of whom 20 had suspect malignancies. Laryngoscopic appearances during standard microlaryngoscopy, fluorescence images and computerized fluorescence intensities were compared to histopathological findings. The experience from this study shows that autofluorescence laryngoscopy may be a useful complementary method for detecting laryngeal malignancies.