Inverted papillomas of the nasal septum

The inverted papilloma is a true neoplasm of the nose and paranasal sinuses with unusual biological and clinical characteristics. It is a benign process which exhibits certain malignant features such as recurrence, localized destruction of tissues and the possibility of malignant degeneration. Inverted papillomas occur most commonly on the lateral nasal wall, but a small percentage are discovered elsewhere including the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, the nasopharynx and the nasal septum. Controversy exists about whether septal papillomas are true inverted papillomas or whether they represent the more commonplace squamous papillomas found in the upper respiratory tract. Two case reports of inverted papillomas of the nasal septum are presented as well as a review of the literature on these neoplasms.