Transitional Papilloma of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinuses

Abstract

Transitional papilloma is a rare but not uncommon tumor with an overall incidence varying between 0.5 and 4 % of all primary nasal tumors. The probability of recurrence is high, between 20 and 62 %, even after adequate therapy. Malignancies are associated with transitional papilloma in 2–13% of cases. A series of 21 patients with transitional papilloma of the nose and/or paranasal sinuses is presented. Human papillomavirus (HPV) structural proteins and DNA types were found in 13 cases (62 %) of transitional papillomas studied. None of the 9 nasal polyps and none of the 9 squamous cell carcinomas of paranasal sinuses studied as control material contained HPV DNA. We found 4 recurrent papillomas (19 %) during the 2-year observation time. All recurrences were HPV-positive. The incidence of malignant transformation was 14 % in this series. Treatment of transitional papilloma is always surgical. In our opinion medial maxillectomy and ethmoidectomy via sublabial rhinotomy is the surgery of choice in the treatment of transitional papilloma.

Treatment Outcomes in the Management of Inverted Papilloma: An Analysis of 160 Cases

“…From a clinical viewpoint, gender does not appear to be a predisposing factor in the development of malignancy. 20,37 However, malignant tumors appear to arise at a later mean age than their benign counterparts: in the study by Benninger et al, 20 61 versus 52 years; in Bielamowicz et al, 12 61 versus 52 years; in Siivonen et al, 38 64 versus 55 years; and in Christensen and Smith, 39 66 versus 49 years. The racial incidence parallels that of benign lesions, with a preponderance of whites affected.…”