Oral Growth/Child

Hi Doctor,

A few months ago, my son had a tonsillectomy which was performed by an ENT doctor.  After he was finished, he said everything went well but he found a papilloma growth on his uvula and removed it for biopsy.  This alarmed me very much and I asked him exactly what it was.  He said it was basically a papilloma growth (wart if you will) and he said it is very common and he sees them all the time in children.  He said he would remove it and have a biopsy but it really was "no big deal" and I shouldn't worry.  Basically, he did not even want to talk about it further.

After, I stared to really worry and did some online research about papilloma growth and found out there is something called RRP which effects children and can be cronic (chronic).  This has rather alarmed me.

My questions are as follows:
1.  How would he have obtained this growth?  Would he have obtained it during vaginal delivery 4 years ago?  Could I have had genital warts and passed this along to my child.

2.  Is this truly that common?  I have him to the dentist every 6 months and there have never been any growths in his mouth at all.  

3.  Should I take him to see an oral surgeon?  I am afraid this might come back and cause a serious health problem.

4.  Can someone have just one growth without any reoccurances?

I guess this has just gotten me very worried hearing about RRP which can be a cronic (chronic) illness and I want to make sure I get the right diagnosis.  

Thank you for your time.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

The answer to question 4 is yes. These growths do not necessarily return.I am not familiar with RRP so I can not comment on it. I also would be more insistent on an explanation from the ENT doctor to give you a better explanation. I also have no problem with you taking your son to an oral surgeon for an exam. There is nothing wrong with keeping on top of this but I don't think it will be a problem in the future.