-IBIS-1.5.0-
tx
cutaneous system
warts
diagnoses

definition and etiology

definition:
common, benign tumors of the skin; also termed "verruca vulgaris"

etiology:
The associated agents are papilloma viruses. Although warts may occur at any age, they are most common in older children and are rarely seen in the elderly.

signs and symptoms

signs and symptoms:
common warts: round or irregular, raised, clearly delineated, firm, 2-10 mm in diameter and present in a variety of colors (grey, brown, yellow, or black); may be single or in groups; they display the Koebner phenomenon, so will frequently appear over an area of trauma
plantar warts: warts on the sole of the foot that are flat and covered by cornified skin. Unlike common warts, these may be very tender to touch, and cause pain with walking on the involved sole; this is what usually brings the patient into the office.
miscellaneous warts: filiform, flat, mosaic, periungual, and venereal (see venereal warts)

lab findings:
• scraping or curetting wart shows punctate bleeding or black pinpoint "seeds", which differentiates from corns or calluses

course and prognosis

The course varies: warts may last months or years, and spontaneous remissions are common. Warts are highly susceptible to suggestion, and may often be sold, bargained or wished away (especially in children); this suggests an immunologic basis. Conventional treatment varies in effectiveness, with a recurrence rate of typically 30-35%. Treatments include freezing with solid CO2, electrodesiccation, and different types of acid plasters.

differential diagnosis

• molluscum contagiosum
• corns
• calluses
• squamous cell carcinoma
• actinic keratosis


footnotes