Laryngeal papillomatosis in Senegal: A ten-year experience.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of laryngeal papillomatosis in the Fann teaching hospital ENT department in Dakar, Senegal.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all cases of laryngeal papillomatosis managed in the Fann teaching hospital ENT department between 1st January 2006 and 31st December 2015. Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of laryngeal papillomatosis were studied. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 18 software.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 11 years and the sex ratio was 1.88. The mean time to consultation was 4.5 years. The predominant symptom was dysphonia, present in all cases, followed by laryngeal dyspnoea in 64.6% of cases. The glottic area was involved in all patients. Tracheostomy was performed in 20.8% of cases. All patients in our study underwent endoscopic excision of the lesions.

CONCLUSION

Laryngeal papillomatosis is the most common benign tumor in children, but it can also occur in adults. Treatment has been revolutionized by progress in endoscopy and antiviral therapy. However, tracheostomy still occupies an important place in our practice.