Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with lung involvement and malignant transformation.

To cite: Shiau E-L, Li M-F, Hsu J-H, et al. Thorax 2014;69:302–303. A 49-year-old male had history of recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis spreading to the bronchus and lung parenchyma since childhood. He had been treated with repeated endoscopic CO2 laser excision (figure 1). He had no smoking history. He was admitted with a 3-day history of worsening fever, cough and dyspnoea. Chest radiography showed a right lower lung mass, bronchiectasis, many cystic lesions and right pleural effusion (figure 2A). The right lower lobe mass measured 8.8×7.0 cm and had central hypodense areas consistent with necrosis (figure 2B, taken 8 years after figure 1) and there was mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed numerous papillomas in the respiratory tract consistent with respiratory papillomatosis and an endobronchial tumour obliterating the right lower lobe bronchus, which bled on contact (figure 2C). Histopathology proved it a squamous cell carcinoma with papillomas identified in the tumour. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with malignant transformation was diagnosed. The patient received target therapy with erlotinib (Tarceva) and radiotherapy. Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, caused by infection with human papillomavirus, is usually localised to the laryngeal and subglottic region. Tracheal involvement has been reported to occur in 5% of cases, and fewer than 1% of cases show lung