A case of juvenile-onset laryngeal papillomatosis requiring emergency airway management

Abstract

Juvenile-onset laryngeal papillomatosis has a serious tendency for rapid growth and repeated recurrence. Thus, patience and prudence are required for the successful management of this pathology. We report herein on 2-year and 4- month-old boy with juvenile-onset laryngeal papillomatosis, which caused remarkable airway constriction that required urgent airway management. He was delivered vaginally by a mother with condyloma acuminatum. Hoarseness appeared at 1 year of age, and retractive breathing was observed at 1 year and 6 months of age. He finally presented with severe wheezing and was admitted to the emergency room of our hospital with a laryngeal tumor strongly resembling a papilloma. Emergency endotracheal intubation was possible by means of a fine endotracheal tube with an internal diameter of 2.5 mm. His supraglottic space was filled with the tumor; thus, making the visibility of the vocal folds difficult. The tumor was surgically removed using a microdebrider under general anesthesia. The histopathologieal diagnosis was benign papilloma and HPV11 virus was detected. The rapidly growing papilloma showed a strong tendency for recurrence, and four additional surgical procedures had to be performed within 6 months after the first operation. This patient will therefore require cautious medical care in the future.