Observations on the early results of treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis using cidofovir.
OBJECTIVE: To document the response of two patients with severe recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis following treatment with intralesional cidofovir in conjunction with carbon-dioxide laser evaporation. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. METHODS: Retrospective review of treatment of two patients followed up over a 12-month period. INTERVENTION: Microlaryngoscopy and carbon-dioxide laser evaporation of lesions followed by intralesional injection of cidofovir. OUTCOME MEASURES: Photodocumentation and descriptive statistical representation of intervals between endoscopic treatment. The disease was staged according to severity on endoscopy. RESULTS: Initially, both patients showed a marked improvement of disease. However, the disease relapsed to a significant extent. Overall, there was no demonstrable change in the frequency of required endoscopies despite subjective improvement of the airway. CONCLUSION: Cidofovir may be of some benefit in the management of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, but further studies are still required.