Sinonasal inverted papilloma – malignant transformation and non‐sinonasal malignancies

Objectives To assess malignant transformation rate, non‐sinonasal malignancies, and factors contributing to recurrence in patients treated for sinonasal inverted papilloma (SNIP). Study Design Retrospective study. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients treated for SNIP ( n = 296) between the years 1984–2014 at Helsinki University Hospital. Data from the Finnish Cancer Registry confirmed the number of those patients with sinonasal and non‐sinonasal malignancies. Results Only 2 of 296 (0.7%) patients primarily diagnosed with benign SNIP developed sinonasal cancer in a mean follow‐up of 5.8 years. The most common non‐sinonasal cancer sites were similar to those reported for the whole Finnish population. None of the patients presented with an HPV‐associated non‐sinonasal malignancy. The recurrence rate among patients who underwent attachment‐oriented surgery was significantly lower compared to those operated on with other approaches (40.2% vs. 56.6%, p = 0.006). Dysplasia in SNIP was associated with a higher recurrence rate ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Malignant transformation of SNIP was rare. Patients with SNIP were not prone to HPV‐associated non‐sinonasal malignancies. Endoscopic resection and attachment‐oriented surgery have become predominant approaches in the treatment of SNIP; meanwhile, the total number of SNIP recurrences has decreased. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope , 133:506–511, 2023