Long-term results of surgical treatment for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

Abstract

In all, 64 patients (33%) underwent a total of 137 operations using the CO2 laser; 130 patients (67%) underwent a total of 565 microlaryngeal operations by surgery with cold instruments. Five percent of the patients treated with conventional microlaryngeal surgery and none of the patients treated with laser surgery required tracheostomy (p<0.05). Postoperative glottic webs and scar formations were found in 6% of all patients after laser surgery and 20% after conventional surgery (p<0.05). The different methods of treatment did not affect the rate of recurrence (p=0.61) Malignant transformation or secondary airway carcinoma were observed in 4% of all patients.