Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with lower airway involvement in a young woman

ABSTRACT

Radiological presentation of bronchiectasis should prompt the respiratory physician to investigate various differential diagnosis leading to this condition. This case report describes a young non-smoking woman with HPV11 induced laryngeal Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP) since early childhood, who developed progressive exertional dyspnea. A thorough diagnostic process revealed HPV11 infection in the lung parenchyma consistent with RRP in the lower airways, an HPV infection that was most likely obtained from the patient´s mother during vaginal birth.

This case report illustrates that also respiratory physicians should keep RRP in mind in persons with the radiological presentation of bronchiectasis previously diagnosed RRP in the upper airways.

KEYWORDS:

• RRP
• recurrent respiratory papillomatosis
• papillomas
• rare disease
• HPV
• HRCT
• treatment

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tatiana Mamaeva

Tatiana Mamaeva, MD, received her medical degree from the Volgograd Medical University, Russia in 2005. She is now a young doctor at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Camilla Slot Mehlum

Camilla Slot Mehlum, MD, PhD Fellow, completed her Medical degree from the University of Southern Denmark in 1998. She is a consultant at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck surgery, Odense University Hospital. Her main research areas are laryngology, voice and laryngeal precursor lesions.

Jesper Rømhild Davidsen

Jesper Rømhild Davidsen, MD, PhD, completed his Medical degree from the University of Southern Denmark in 2002, and his PhD in 2011. Dr. Davidsen is a consultant in internal and respiratory medicine, a Associate Professor at Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark and leads the South Danish Center for Interstitial Lung Diseases at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. His main research areas are within interstitial lung diseases, lung transplantation, and lung ultrasound.