Novel synchronous nasal involvement of inverted papilloma and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis with confirmed human papillomavirus isolated from nasal septum and middle turbinate: a case report

BACKGROUND: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a chronic disease of viral origin affecting the larynx, trachea, and lower airways. Inverted papilloma, most commonly originating from the lateral nasal wall, is typically a single, expansile, locally aggressive tumor that remodels bone around the site of origin. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of histopathologically proven inverted papilloma occurring in a 50-year-old Caucasian man with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis affecting his nasal cavity, larynx, and trachea. This constitutes the first report of nasal involvement in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Viral in situ hybridization studies demonstrated evidence of human papillomavirus in both the septum and middle turbinate subsites. Repeat nasal excision with margin analysis is planned. CONCLUSIONS: This report emphasizes the importance of considering a broad differential diagnosis in patients with papillomata, and obtaining comprehensive histopathologic evaluation of lesions in multiple subsites in order to rule out inverted papilloma or overt malignant transformation, particularly if high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes are identified. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4