title: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: the Korle-Bu experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a benign disease of the aero digestive tract which is caused by the human papilloma virus type 6 and 11 and mainly affects children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe the pattern of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis at the E.N.T Unit Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study of theatre records of patients managed for respiratory papillomata from January 1995 to December 2004 at the E.N.T Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra which is a tertiary facility. These records were studied and we obtained information on gender, age, number of surgeries and the presence of tracheotomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-nine patients were identified over the period. Thirty-three males and 36 females with a M:F ratio 1:1.1, and ages ranging from 2 to 54 years. The mean age was 12.3 years and a median age of 8.5 years.Children less than 10 years accounted for 69% and 46.4% had repeated surgery with overall tracheotomy rate of 14.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis is primarily a paediatric disease. Locally, its distribution is comparable to others in the sub region and worldwide and surgery is the mainstay of treatment.
authors.affiliation: E.N.T Unit, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 77, Korle Bu, Accra. dr3kbaidoo@yahoo.com
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Baidoo
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kitcher
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D052140:Human papillomavirus 11; D052163:Human papillomavirus 6; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D010212:Papilloma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014140:Tracheotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*