Laryngeal papilloma can affect both children and adults and is treated with medication and surgery, but the recurrence rate is high.
Laryngeal papillomas or recurrent respiratory papillomas are benign tumors that form along the respiratory tract. Based on age, this tumor is divided into two types: laryngeal papilloma in adolescents and adults. The disease is caused by the HPV virus (human papilloma virus), usually HPV 6 and HPV 11. The rate of this type of papilloma progressing to squamous cell carcinoma is very low.
MSc.BSc.CKI Truong Tan Phat, Head of Ear, Nose and Throat Unit, Tam Anh General Clinic, District 7, Tam Anh General Hospital System, said the main method of treating laryngeal papillomas is surgery. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a computed tomography (CT) scan to evaluate the possibility of the papilloma spreading to the lower respiratory tract, for a comprehensive examination before surgery.
Surgery: Tumors are at risk of recurring within a few weeks or months, so multiple surgeries and monitoring with laryngoscopy or tracheoscopy are needed (if necessary).
During surgery, the doctor may consider removing some nearby tissue to completely remove the latent virus that is not clinically visible. Endoscopic laryngoscopy combining methods such as microdebrider, cryosurgery and microsurgery are often applied.
In severe cases, when the tumor has progressed, the surgeon will open the trachea. The tracheal tube helps keep the airway open and breathing is clear but is inconvenient. After removing the tumor, the doctor tries to remove the patient’s tracheal tube as soon as possible.
Doctor Phat advises patients. Illustration photo: Hospital provided
Internal medicine treatment: Medicines to treat laryngeal papilloma are usually antiviral drugs that help prevent the virus from progressing. The effect of the drug is to prevent the growth of blood vessels of papillomas.
To prevent laryngeal papillomas, adults should get vaccinated against HPV. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children ages 11-26 receive this vaccine.
When there are signs of sore throat, prolonged hoarseness, recurrent pneumonia, and frequent difficulty breathing, the patient should see a doctor soon. If the patient is at risk of cancer, the doctor will screen, detect the disease and provide appropriate treatment.