The expression of the receptor for epidermal growth factor(EGF) in normal human glottic epidermis, papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) was determined by immunohistochemical staining. Immunoreactive receptor was localized using two murine monoclonal antibodies(MAbs) which recognize the receptor ; MAb 29.1 which reacts with sequences in the external domain of the receptor and MAb F4 which recognizes sequences in the internal domain. The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) was present on basal and some spinous cells of normal glottic epidermis. Regional variation in the distribution of the receptor was apparent. A similar pattern of receptor expression was seen on laryngeal papillomas. Most tumor cells in squamous cell carcinoma were strongly positive for EGFR. This study suggests that overexpression of the EGFR on laryngeal epidermis is not the sequences of proliferation, and that it is specific for malignancies.