Exophytic sinonasal papillomas and nasal florid papillomatosis: A retrospective study

Sinonasal exophytic papillomas are rare. The multifocal form, florid papillomatosis, has not been yet described in literature. We report on the clinical features and the management of the different forms of exophytic papilloma.

A retrospective study was conducted that included all patients with exophytic papilloma treated in our center over the past 12 years. We recorded clinical presentation, treatments, recurrences, pathology (p16 expression and human papillomavirus [HPV] status).

We included 13 patients with a mean follow-up of 5 years. The main location of exophytic papilloma was the anterior part of the septum. Lesions were multifocal in 3 patients corresponding to florid papillomatosis. The main treatment was surgery. Cases of HPV-11 or HPV-6 were present in all forms of exophytic papilloma (dysplasia in 4 cases). Late recurrences occurred in 3 patients (2 patients with florid papillomatosis) over a period of 3 years.

Exophytic papilloma has 2 clinical presentations: localized and diffuse. Patients with florid papillomatosis should be monitored closely as recurrence seems to be frequent.