ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of lower respiratory papilloma(LRP)and therefore to improve clinical diagnosis and treatment.

MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of patients who were diagnosed with LRP in our department from October 2008 to October 2020.

ResultsNineteen patients were enrolled and 12 were male and 7 were female. The average age of the 7 adult patients was (41.3±17.5)years and that of the 12 pediatric patients was (5.5±3.5)years. Ten (83.3%)of the pediatric patients showed disease onset at an age of less than 5 years. The main symptoms were cough and sputum production (13/19), dyspnea (15/19), hoarseness (10/19) and signs of stridor or wheezing (7/19). Chest CT examination was performed in 9 patients, which showed nodules or masses (9/9), cystic thin-walled cavity (4/9), obstructive pneumonia (2/9), atelectasis (2/9), and spicule sign (1/9). The upper respiratory tract was affected in all the pediatric patients (12/12) and 3/7 of the adult patients. Eighteen cases (18/19) were diagnosed by bronchoscopy, 1 (1/9) by thoracoscopy. Eighteen cases (18/19) showed mulberry-like and papillary lesions under bronchoscopy. All the cases were histologically confirmed as squamous cell papilloma, with 17 cases(17/19)showing tissue HPV6/11(+), 2 negative (2/19). The positive rate of HPV6 was 36.8%, ant that of HPV11 was 21.1%, while the double positive rate of HPV6/11 was 31.6%, and HPV16/18 were negative in all the 19 cases. Isolated respiratory papillomatosis was found in 4 cases (4/19), and multiple papillomatosis in 15 cases (15/19). Seventeen cases (17/19) underwent endoscopic interventional therapy, and the result showed that 15 cases relapsed, and 2 cases had no recurrence. One patient was treated with thoracoscopic lobectomy, and died 4 months after surgery. One patient gave up treatment.

ConclusionsLRP is a rare clinical disease with a chronic course, and isolated LRP is even rarer. Young patients often suffer from upper respiratory tract involvement, and the main symptoms are cough, sputum production, dyspnea and hoarseness. CT scanning showed nodules and masses, cystic thin-walled cavities or signs of airway obstruction. Bronchoscopy often demonstrates papillary lesions. The diagnosis depends on pathology, with squamous cell papilloma being the most common, and most tests are positive for HPV6/11. It is suggested that the incidence is associated with low-risk HPV infection. Endoscopic resection is the main treatment, which is prone to relapse. The treatment should take into account the pathological changes of upper respiratory tract, and the etiological treatment of HPV should be stressed.