title: Traditional Chinese Medicine for treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the clinical effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an adjuvant therapy for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The design of this study was a case series. LOCATION AND SUBJECTS: Fifty-one (51) patients with laryngeal papillomatosis who were treated at Keio University Hospital between May 1981 and April 2008 were incorporated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individually formulated TCM was orally administered postsurgically to 20 patients with aggressive laryngeal papillomatosis requiring multiple laser ablations (at least biannually) because of frequent recurrence. Eight (8) patients were excluded because of discontinued visits or medication (6 patients), or malignant transformation of the lesion (2 patients). The remaining 12 patients were enrolled in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review and review of the patients' recorded laryngeal images were performed. Clinical response to TCM was measured by the surgical necessity and Derkay's severity score for each patient, followed by statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Surgeries were required statistically less often (p = 0.0029) after TCM administration compared with the pre-TCM period. Furthermore, Derkay's severity score was significantly lower (p = 0.022) at the patients' last visit compared with the score before TCM administration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCM may be a useful adjuvant therapy to treat aggressive laryngeal papillomatosis. Further studies are necessary to clarify the pharmacological mechanism of TCM in the treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
authors.forename: Koichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiotani
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002648:Child; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007830:Larynx / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010212:Papilloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal