The adequate appraisal of precancerous changes is of the utmost importance in our everlasting fight against cancer, and its socio–rnedical relevance is acknowledged world–wide. In every country where epidemiologists register a rising incidence of malignant neoplasms, endeavours must focus not only on the early diagnosis of existing cancers, but even more on detecting the signs of coming tumors. That is why today the precancerous lesions are a main point of interest in cancer research all over the world for pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, obstetricians, etc. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 33: 195–217, 1983.