Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Title

Other Names:

RRP; Juvenile laryngeal papilloma; Laryngeal papilloma, recurrent; RRP; Juvenile laryngeal papilloma; Laryngeal papilloma, recurrent; Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (type); JORRP (type); Adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (type); AORRP (type); Respiratory papillomatosis, recurrent See More

Categories:

Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases; Lung Diseases

Summary Summary

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare viral disease where tumors (papillomas) grow in the air passages leading from the nose and mouth into the lungs (respiratory tract). Although the tumors can grow anywhere in the respiratory tract, their presence in the larynx (voice box) causes the most frequent problems, a condition called laryngeal papillomatosis. The tumors may vary in size and grow very quickly. They often grow back even when removed. RRP is caused by two types of human papillomavirus (HPV), called HPV 6 and HPV 11.^[1]

Last updated: 11/21/2011

Symptoms Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms	Other Names	Learn More: HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Hoarse voice	Hoarseness Husky voice [ more ]	0001609
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Dysphonia	Inability to produce voice sounds	0001618
Respiratory distress	Breathing difficulties Difficulty breathing [ more ]	0002098
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Dysphagia	Poor swallowing Swallowing difficulties Swallowing difficulty [ more ]	0002015
Failure to thrive	Faltering weight Weight faltering [ more ]	0001508
Hemoptysis	Coughing up blood	0002105
Nonproductive cough	Dry cough	0031246
Recurrent pneumonia		0006532
Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections	Recurrent colds	0002788
Respiratory insufficiency	Respiratory impairment	0002093
Stridor		0010307
Tachypnea	Increased respiratory rate or depth of breathing	0002789
Upper airway obstruction		0002781
Wheezing		0030828
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Atelectasis	Partial or complete collapse of part or entire lung	0100750
Choking episodes		0030842
Fever		0001945
Squamous cell carcinoma		0002860
Syncope	Fainting spell	0001279
Tracheomalacia	Floppy windpipe	0002779

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Last updated: 1/1/2020

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Treatment Treatment

There is no cure for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Surgery is the primary method for removing tumors from the larynx or airway. Because traditional surgery can result in problems due to scarring of the larynx tissue, many surgeons are now using laser surgery, which uses an intense laser light as the surgical tool. Carbon dioxide lasers—which pass electricity through a tube containing carbon dioxide and other gases to generate light—are currently the most popular type used for this purpose. In the past 10 years, surgeons have begun using a device called a microdebrider, which uses suction to hold the tumor while a small internal rotary blade removes the growth.^[1]

Once the tumors have been removed, they have a tendency to return. It is common for affected individuals to require repeat surgery. In the most extreme cases where tumor growth is aggressive, a tracheostomy may be performed.^[1]

Adjuvant therapies—therapies that are used in addition to surgery—have been used to treat more severe cases of RRP. Drug treatments may include antivirals such as interferon and cidofovir, which block the virus from making copies of itself, and indole-3-carbinol, a cancer-fighting compound found in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts. To date, the results of these and other adjuvant therapies have been mixed or not yet fully proven.^[1]

Two articles from eMedicine Journal provides comprehensive information on treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis at the following links. You may need to register to view these articles, but registration is free.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/302648-treatment#showall
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/865758-treatment#showall

Last updated: 11/21/2011

Related Diseases Related Diseases

Related diseases are conditions that have similar signs and symptoms. A health care provider may consider these conditions in the table below when making a diagnosis. Please note that the table may not include all the possible conditions related to this disease.

Conditions with similar signs and symptoms from Orphanet
The differential diagnosis includes acute laryngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, asthma, bronchitis, and other benign or malignant laryngeal tumors. Visit the Orphanet disease page for more information.

Research Research

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation (RRPF)
12 Ashwood Court
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Telephone: 609-530-1443
Fax: 609-530-1912
E-mail: bills@rrpf.org
Website: http://www.rrpf.org/

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Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis
Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Surgery
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

GARD Answers GARD Answers

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

I have had recurrent respiratory papillomatosis for 14 years. My vocal cords have an HPV infection that grows papillomas. I tried interferon treatment and for nine months, nothing grew. When the treatment was stopped, the papillomas returned with a vengeance. I then underwent CO2 laser ablation with Cidofofir injections, which was done 30 times. I am losing my voice to scar tissue. Are there any new therapies that might halt these growths? See answer

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References References

Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis or Laryngeal Papillomatosis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. October 2010; http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/laryngeal.aspx. Accessed 11/21/2011.

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