Current diagnostic and management trends for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

The purpose of this review is to discuss recent literature regarding diagnostic and management trends for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) published within the past year. This includes a discussion of new information regarding the epidemiology and pathogenesis of RRP and an update on adjuvant therapy and new surgical techniques.

Epidemiological studies have confirmed that juvenile-onset RRP is the most common and most aggressive form of the disease. Age at diagnosis is the most important determinant of disease severity, with younger patients requiring significantly more annual surgeries and more likely to have multicentric disease. Distal tracheal or pulmonary RRP is rare, but carries a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Research into the pathogenesis of RRP has focused on the genetics of HPV infection and host-virus interactions, suggesting a genetic basis for host susceptibility to RRP. At the present time, surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for RRP. However, recurrence after surgery is common and the search for effective adjuvant therapies is ongoing. The antiviral drug cidofovir has demonstrated efficacy against RRP and is considered a promising new adjuvant treatment of this disease. In an attempt to minimize the untoward effects of surgery, the pulsed-dye laser (PDL) has emerged as a safe and efficacious treatment for select patients with RRP.

While a cure for RRP remains elusive, there has been substantial progress in the diagnosis and management of this disease. Significant advances in clinical and basic science research have dramatically improved our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease and led to the development of promising new adjuvant therapies and surgical techniques. This has translated to an improved quality of life for many patients with RRP.