An Updated Review on Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Abstract

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) is a disease of exophytic lesions in respiratory epithelium and vocal folds, being an important cause of childhood dysphonia. The etiology comes from the Human papillomavirus (HPV) which presents the host with high morbidity, in addition to being a precursor to neoplasms such as squamous cell carcinoma. The disease is more severe in its juvenile form, while in the adult form the disease occurs less frequently. Clinically it is a pathology of nonspecific symptoms. The diagnosis is confirmed by laryngoscopy and the treatment has as principles the control of the disease and keeping the patient's airway clear since there is no cure until the present moment. Although surgery is the main form of disease control, adjuvant treatments with cidofovir and bevacizumab have shown a better prognosis for the disease. The HPV vaccine has also been related to therapeutic and prophylactic effects, resulting in a decrease in the number of procedures per year.