Differential Diagnosis of Genital Wart
The differential diagnosis for genital warts can be categorized into the following groups:
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Condyloma acuminatum (genital wart caused by human papillomavirus, HPV): This is the most common diagnosis for genital warts, characterized by small, flesh-colored or gray swellings in the genital area.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Molluscum contagiosum: A viral infection that causes small, pearly, or flesh-colored bumps on the skin, often in the genital area.
- Fordyce spots: Small, yellowish or white bumps on the genitals caused by the presence of sebaceous glands.
- Seborrheic keratosis: A benign skin growth that can appear as a wart-like lesion in the genital area.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Squamous cell carcinoma: A type of skin cancer that can present as a wart-like lesion in the genital area, emphasizing the importance of biopsy for atypical or persistent lesions.
- Basal cell carcinoma: Although rare in the genital area, it's a type of skin cancer that should not be missed due to its potential for local destruction.
- Rare diagnoses
- Vestibular papillomatosis: A rare condition characterized by small, finger-like projections on the vulvar vestibule, which can be mistaken for genital warts.
- Bowenoid papulosis: A rare condition caused by high-risk HPV types, presenting as flat, pigmented lesions that can resemble genital warts but have malignant potential.