Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: an extensive review

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is characterized by the recurrence of benign tumors (papillomata) in the aero digestive tract caused by Human Papilloma Virus. The burden for the patient and the society is non negligible, due to the high frequency of repetitive surgeries. The disease follows a bimodal age distribution. Usually the very first manifestation is hoarseness or voice changes but if negligee it can cause airway obstruction resulting in respiratorystridor or acute respiratory distress The treatment is challenging, includes surgery (mostly CO2 laser) and adjuvant medical therapy is almost always required (Cidofovir, interferon a, and others). The risk of malignant transformation is not negligent. Advances in immunology will lead us to understand the biology of HPV and will permit successful therapies. Prophylactic HPV vaccines are a promising area of research concerning RRP.