Study Objective: To describe our experience using laser excision and locally injected mumps vaccine to induce remission in patients with recurrent respiratory papilloma (RRP).

Design: Pilot study group of 11 children, subsequent case series of 18 children and 20 adults.

Setting: Tertiary care regional medical center.

Participants: Initially, 11 children with RRP all treated with laser excision at regular intervals for at least a year without any adjuvant therapy. Later 18 children and 20 adults with RRP, some of whom had used various adjuvant therapy with interval laser excision.

Interventions: Both patient groups continued their same interval laser excision, using the same of similar laser, same clinical setting, same surgeon. Locally injected mumps vaccine was then administered into the excision site after each laser removal of papilloma.

Outcome measures: Larynx and trachea were observed micro-photographically with each treatment. Two consecutive disease free intervals and a follow up of at least one year were required criteria for remission.

Results: In the pilot study, remission was induced in 9/11 patients (81.8%) by 1 to 10 injections, with follow up of 5 to 19 years. In the subsequent series, remission was induced in 29/38 patients (76.3%) by 4 to 26 injections and follow up was 2 to 5 years.

Conclusions: Combined with serial laser excision, mumps vaccine positively influences induction of remission in children with RRP. The mechanisms of this effect are unclear but the treatment is readily available, cheap, and has a low risk of side effects.

Email: npashley@aol.com