Infantile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: review of adjuvant therapies.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a potentially life-threatening condition characterised by the growth of exophytic lesions within the larynx and trachea. The principal aim of management is maintenance of an adequate airway by surgical debulking. Several adjuvant therapies have been used to varying effect to reduce the burden of this disease and increase the interval between debulking procedures. The most severe cases present in children aged under three years, who are therefore most likely to need adjuvant therapies. The current evidence base on adjuvant treatments relating to children who present aged under three years has been reviewed.

METHODS: A literature review of articles in Cochrane, PubMed and Embase databases was carried out. Given the rarity of the condition in this age group, all the literature relates to case reports and case series.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The following adjuvant therapies have been used in children who presented under three years of age: quadrivalent human papilloma virus vaccine, intralesional cidofovir, pegylated interferon, alpha-interferon, cimetidine and cetuximab.