Scratch previous reports of a polyoma growth. That word was given to me by mistake as it was confused with the real word.
What are we dealing with? An inverted papilloma.
Here’s what I just wrote in an e-mail to Mom explaining it to her.
A clear summary of the problem is this: “The local aggressiveness, high rate of recurrences and associated malignancy are the clinical properties of the inverted papilloma that lead most surgeons to advocate radical surgical removal of these tumors.”
The other issue is why it’s called inverted: What you see is often a small fraction of the whole. These tumors grow inward, not outward, and that’s how they spread—by invading the tissue below the growth as it expands. One of the biggest issues is “they are notorious for eroding bone and infiltrating soft tissue and vital structures at the base of the skull.”
Early on, as long as they’re removed entirely (hence the need to take so much tissue during surgery), they don’t pose much of a problem. Keep in mind they generally come back time and again, and they are considered an aggressive tumor that are associated with malignant forms of cancer (especially squamous cell carcinoma). They’re rare and “the average age of diagnosis [is] 53 with a range from 6 years old to 91 years old.” They occur in men more often than in women.
Assuming they’ve caught it early enough and remove it all the first time, he should be in the clear. However, removal might not be the end of treatment if they discover anything during surgery. Some patients with this go on to have radiation therapy because of findings during removal. Given his age and overall health, the concern over having it return again is minimal, although that’s highly likely—and soon—if they don’t get it all the first time.
I can’t find much non-medical information on it. If you look it up on the web, you’ll spend a great deal of time plodding through very technical reports, studies and other information. Still, that can help if you want to investigate it.
I’d say it’s serious and needs immediate attention; however, I’d also say it’s probably early enough in its development not to have infiltrated any significant structures or tissues beneath it. Assuming the latter, removing it now (completely) should be the end of the story save the possibility of having it come back.
The next doctor visit is April 4, after which we hopefully will know when surgery is to take place. Then we go from there.