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Should I seek 2nd opinion after inverted papilloma (IP) removal?

Posted , 2 users are following.

james08838
james08838

On Sept 27th I removed an inverted papilloma for my right nostril after it has been growing just a little less than a year. The ENT doctor said surgery was best to make sure he got all of it because of risk of reoccurring. So he removed and burned the underlying tissue.

Yesterday I had my follow up visit where he was inspecting the area. He said that the surgery was a success and that the biopsy showed no signs of cancer. However, he says IP can be very aggressive and because of high rate of reoccurrence and a low to moderate risk of reoccurrence being cancerous he suggested that we opperate again next month to remove the underlying / surrounding bone. (Endoscopic)

Both the previous surgery and the recommended surgery are endoscopic.

My questions:

  1. why didn't he remove the bone during the first surgery since he knew it was IP before surgery. Is it because he had to wait for biopsy to be sure not cancer?

  2. Does removing the bone sound like a good approach even though he said he got all of it?

  3. Should I seek a second opinion from another ENT?

  4. post surgery, how long before the area is no longer tender or painful? It healed on the surface but the area underneath feels tender and hurts slightly if I apply pressure... For example from outside squeezing both nostrils together cause very mild pain in the area.

I'm a bit worried about this because both my Mother, Grandmother and other family died from cancer. (not entirely related) Also, I just want to be sure the doctor is being 100% honest about the success of the first surgery and hopefully it's not a case where he wants to clean up because it was not a success?

Sorry about the anxiety type questions. He's very busy and too rushed to give answers to my questions. He just says don't worry he will sort it all out as he's done this for 30 years.

Thanks @ all

0 likes, 1 reply

1 Reply

  • atichargr
    atichargr james08838

    Posted

    James,

    I had an IP removed from my right sinus almost three years ago. I have a follow up this coming February if all clear I no longer need follow ups unless I have problems..

    My first surgery was done in the office under local, the surgeon removed as much as she could of the IP and some of my ethmoid air cells, it got to painful when she was trying to deglove my maxillary sinus.. at this point she did not know it was an IP.. but was a little suspect since it was unilateral and she could not determine my the location of my middle turbante ..

    I had a follow up a week later at which time the results showed it was an IP , two weeks later I was back in surgery this time done under general .. this time I had an ethmoidectomy , maxillectomy , all I have left on my right side is my lower turbinate ... lots of bone was removed and lots of tissue...

    SO in your case I would get a second opinion they may just want to wait to see if it starts to come back , that means often visits to your ent.. but that is not a bad thing either... as far as the surgery and recovery well for me it was not too bad but everyone is different , I didn't even take any pain killers during recovery.. just make sure you do as they say and you will not have any problems... I flushed my sunuses for almost 2.5 years after my surgery just because mainly habit .. if you follow their post op instructions you should have no problems.. I have no scaring or any problems in that side. If you have surgery make sure you flush as they say to do it it really really makes a difference in your healing ..

    I know we are a very small group of people this being such a rare thing , but any questions I will be happy to help

    Simon

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