Recurrent Laryngeal Papillomatosis: Experience at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile between 2016 and 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare benign disease caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Its treatment is surgical, with a high tendency to recur, for which adjuvant therapies have emerged for severe cases. Objectives: To characte­rize patients with RRP who underwent surgery between 2016 and 2024 at Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile. To identify factors associated with recurrence and evaluate the im­pact of adjuvant therapies. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of 83 patients who underwent surgery for RRP, with a minimum follow-up of 12 months. Clinical and surgical variables were collected and analyzed for associations with recurrence and remission throu­gh statistical analysis. Results: 69.8% of patients were male, with a mean age of 33.8 years. Adjuvant therapy (cidofovir or bevacizumab) was administered in 26.5% of cases. A signifi­cant association was found between younger age and increased recurrence (p = 0.011), and between the presence of stridor and recurrence (p = 0.037). Although adjuvant therapy did not significantly improve complete remission rates, it did extend the recurrence-free interval from 4.8 to 24.1 months (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Early age at diagnosis and the presence of stridor (indicative of higher disease burden) are predictors of a more aggressive disease cour­se. Adjuvant therapies are useful in managing severe cases, prolonging the recurrence-free interval and supporting clinical control.